I am SUZUKI Eikei, Governor of Mie Prefecture.

As a Covid-19 infectious disease preventive measure, I will be speaking with my face mask on.

It is already 2021 but the situation remains severe due to the growing number of people infected with the coronavirus.

I know many foreign residents are affected and some are suffering right now, feeling distressed and worried because they could not return to their home country to see their friends and family.

The initial symptoms of COVID-19 may feel like a regular flu. However, it is a virus with extremely high contamination rate, very dangerous and there is a risk of causing a much serious symptom. If you contracted the disease, those close to you should also be isolated. This affects the lives of many who face reduced income because they are unable to work.

As the governor of Mie, I would like to make three requests to you. Please heed these requests so that together we can overcome this adversity.

First, I urge everyone to comply with the preventive measures.

Avoid confined spaces with poor ventilation, crowding of people in tight spaces and situations where there are unavoidable close contact conversations with other people. Avoid meeting with a large number of people who does not live with you even if they are your friends or family members. For example, do not gather more than 5 people to go out and eat meals together.

Wear a face mask whenever possible. Especially during rest periods at work, when switching places with other people and when talking during meals. Always wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect with alcohol.

Take good care of your health. Rest if you are not feeling well. Take a time off from work or school and seek medical advice.

Second, I ask the people who tested positive with COVID-19 to follow the guidelines.

If you test positive for COVID-19, do not leave your house until the place for your treatment has been decided. Wear face mask even indoors, try to stay in an isolated room and avoid direct contact with other residents. If you need to go out to make arrangements for admission, ask someone who does not live in your residence to go instead.

An official from the Department of Public Health (hoken-jo) will ask you about your symptoms and history of the places you had visited. This investigation is very important not only for your treatment but also to protect the people around you. If you do not speak Japanese, we will try to provide assistance in your language. Please answer the questions honestly, as the Department of Health staff will not reproach you or harm you in any way.

Finally, I ask everyone’s cooperation in case there are infected people in your social circle.

The Department of Public Health will check case by case and will determine whether you are a person who had “contact” or “close contact” with a patient. They will contact you if you need to take the test, so follow the instructions.

You can leave the house if the Health Department determines that you have not had close contact with an infected person. But even if that is the case, continue taking care of your health and comply with the preventive measures.

As a preventive measure, it is recommended to avoid visiting COVID-19 patients. But if you need to visit a patient, obey the recommended measures of the place of hospitalization.

In short, I ask for everyone’s compliance with the preventive measures and follow the guidelines if you got infected with COVID-19 or had someone close to you got infected with the virus.

The provincial government of Mie is taking the necessary steps to end this pandemic as soon as possible and to protect the lives and safety of all citizens.

We are committed to providing information, medical treatment, and all necessary support to foreign citizens. However, it is essential that each of us must fulfill our role in fighting this pandemic. Therefore, I insist that you heed these 3 requests that am making today.

Thank you so much.