The government's novel coronavirus headquarters decided Tuesday to strengthen its measures against infection clusters in response to the virus spreading in Hokkaido and other areas of Japan.
The government calls for stores and offices to keep their buildings thoroughly ventilated -- even as the temperature begins to drop -- among other measures as the risk of the virus rapidly spreading increases.
"We are dealing with the situation with the utmost caution," Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a meeting at the headquarters. "We will take preemptive measures based on our past experiences to protect the lives and health of the people."
The policies that were created on Tuesday were based on an urgent proposal made on Monday by the government's panel of experts on measures to combat the coronavirus. As it is difficult to detect clusters in restaurants and other entertainment establishments in the nightlife district, as well as among foreign residents and university students and other young people who are asymptomatic, the plan is to detect the clusters early by taking measures that are specific to each demographic. The prime minister said the government will deal with clusters more thoroughly than before.
Foreign residents will be provided information in multiple languages and consultations will be more readily available. Universities will do their part to raise awareness among students and provide rapid virus testing. Large-scale PCR testing will be carried out in the event of an infection cluster in an entertainment district.
The risk of infection increases in the winter because people tend to keep the windows closed, so restaurants and other businesses will be asked to monitor their humidity level and keep their premises well ventilated. The government recommends a humidity level of at least 40%.
Information on measures to reduce the risk of infection will also be posted on social media to reach more young people. To prepare for the increase in foreign visitors entering Japan, the number of positive cases in quarantine will be announced and shared with local governments.
The prime minister met with Hokkaido Gov. Naomichi Suzuki at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Tuesday. Suzuki called for public health nurses to be dispatched in the event the virus spreads further, to which the prime minister responded, "We will work closely together to deal with the situation."
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
