Joe Tomei here with another update from the JET Prefectural advisors, Bilal Khan & Lily McDermott.

First new confirmed case in Kumamoto in 12 days (8 May) On 8 May, Kumamoto City announced that a clinical technologist in his 20s who works at the Kumamoto Regional Medical Centre was infected with COVID-19. Last month, 2 nurses and another lab technologist at the same hospital tested positive. The hospital has once again halted taking on any new patients and emergency outpatients for the time being. https://this.kiji.is/631505354396386401?c=92619697908483575 https://this.kiji.is/631989371595981921?c=92619697908483575

Two deaths of patients previously confirmed to be infected and hospitalised have been announced. One, the 32nd case in the prefecture, a male taxi driver who was in his 60s from Kita-ku Kumamoto City, passed away on 4 May. The 25th case, a doctor in his 70s at Kuma Hospital, Hitoyoshi, passed away on 9 May. https://this.kiji.is/629876474870891617?c=92619697908483575 https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/606927/

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revises criteria for consulting health centre The health ministry has revised its guidelines for people seeking to be tested for COVID-19. Previously, guidelines mentioned having a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher continuing for four days.

If you have relatively mild cold-like symptoms, you can contact the health centre after four days. However, if you have a high fever, difficulty breathing, or strong fatigue, you now are encouraged to contact your local health centre immediately without waiting for 4 days. Furthermore, if you are elderly or have underlying medical conditions, you may contact the local health centre immediately as soon as you experience any cold-like symptoms. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200508_32/ https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20200508-00000167-kyodonews-soci.view-000

School re-opening decision to be made after 20 May expert meeting In April, the prefecture decided to close schools until 31 May. However, on 7 May, Governor Kabashima indicated that schools may re-open. The Prefectural Board of Education is planning to make a decision on when to re-open schools after the City-Prefecture joint meeting of experts on 20 May next week. https://this.kiji.is/631264595568821345?c=92619697908483575

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism orders nationwide extension of shaken validity If your shaken (vehicle inspection, 車検) expires this month, its validity will be automatically extended until 1 July due to the extension of the state of emergency. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200508/k10012421711000.html?utm_int=all_side_ranking-social_003

Prefectural positive test rate figures For the period between 3 May and 9 May, the average positive rate for PCR tests performed in Kumamoto Prefecture reached 0.4 per cent, the lowest since the period between 8 and 14 March. You can read more about the positive rate and the number of tests performed here: https://this.kiji.is/632351760108307553?c=92619697908483575