June 21, 2021
July 9, 2021

Saitama prefecture has taken “Stricter Anti-Coronavirus Measures” from April 20 to June 20 July 11. On June 17 July 8, these measures have been extended until July 11 August 22.

Since asymptomatic COVID-19 students attended some face-to-face lectures, all the participants (143 people were requested by the public health center to have a PCR test, and 133 people had the test. This was because the “Seating Position Confirmation System” was not used in the lecture, leading to the implementation of a large-scale inspection. If the system was functioning, it would be sufficient to conduct an inspection for a limited number of participants and all the participants didn’t have to be worried unnecessarily. Therefore, teachers are requested to instruct students to register with the system at the beginning of lectures, and students are requested to register with the system at the beginning of lectures.

While many members of the association are working to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is regrettable that a large number of students from a certain club had a dinner party and 13 students were infected with COVID-19. This case did not reach the certification of cluster by Saitama City. However, in order not to cause such a situation, and in order to protect the health of yourself and your family and the region, please strictly observe the following matters.

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○Saitama University’s policy for dealing with COVID-19 has been kept at Risk Level 2. However, there is no indication that this situation is being brought under control and the risk of infection remains high. Furthermore, some variants are spreading all over Japan recently. Saitama University ask our students, faculty and staff to act with a strong awareness of “not getting infected” and “not letting others get infected” all the time, and  take the following actions in order to protect the lives and health. Faculty and staff should not work outside Saitama prefecture as much as possible.

・Act in accordance with “COVID-19 Infection Countermeasure.”
・Act in accordance with “Saitama University Students Behavioral Guidelines.”

○Due to the “Stricter Anti-Coronavirus Measures”, the Governor of Saitama Prefecture request residents of Saitama prefecture take the following actions. 

・ Refrain from eating out after 8 p.m.(Saitama city and Kawaguchi city) or 9 p.m. (the other cities in Saitama prefecture).
・ Refrain from using restaurants where the thorough measures to stop the spread of infection are not taken.
・ Refrain from traveling across prefectural. (Specially, Tokyo, Osaka and the other prefectures which are in a state of emergency.)
・ Refrain from going out unnecessarily.
・ Avoid closed spaces and crowded times.
・ Refrain from eating and drinking on a road or in a park.
・ Refrain from using Karaoke machine at an eating place.
・ When going out or traveling, take measures to prevent infection as much as possible, and make sure to go straight and return without stopping at places other than the intended ones.
・ Keep distance and wear a mask when you speak.
・ When eating out, eat in silence within 90 minutes and only speak when masks are on.
・ Dine with a family living together. Refrain from dining in a group with more than four in a long time.
・ Refrain from having a home party.
・Wash your hands, Disinfect your hands.
・ Avoid the three Cs; Closed spaces, Crowded places, Close-contact setting.
・ Do a shopping alone as much as possible.

○Saitama University was also required by MEXT to make fully students known to take the following actions. These actions continue to be required. 

・Refrain from going arranging a welcoming/sending-off party.
・Refrain from having a home party.
・Avoid “5 situations” that increase the risk of infection
       Situation①　Social gatherings with drinking alcohol
       Situation②　Long feasts in large groups
       Situation③　Conversation without a mask
       Situation④　Living together in a small limited space
       Situation⑤　Switching locations
・Reconfirm the risk of infection. Most of infected young people in their 20s or 30s are asymptomatic or only have had mild symptoms. But please remember that the symptoms might become sever and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 is unknown.

○On May 7, MEXT alerted to the extracurricular activities.

・ Take care of your health condition by yourself on a daily basis.
・ Refrain from participating in the activities when you have a fever or other symptoms.
・ Take temperature every morning.
    (There are some clinical thermometer on campus. If you don’t know their installation places, please come to Students’ Center or Health Center. )

We recommend installing the contact-confirming application.
・COCOA / Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
・COVID-19 LINE Notification system / Saitama prefecture (Japanese only)

【Reference】
Thoroughness of COVID-19 Infection countermeasures