Another update from Lily McDermott & Chase Sutherland the Kumamoto JET Program Prefectural Advisors

===== Yesterday, Kumamoto City and Kumamoto Prefecture raised the infection Risk Level to Level 4. This is the highest level on their 5-stage scale, and the first time a Level 4 warning has been issued since the pandemic began.

The Prefectural government is asking for all residents to co-operate with the following requests: Please do not travel unnecessarily across prefectural lines. Please do not go to any places in which the “three Cs” are present or travel to any places in which infections are spreading. Please be thorough in implementing all measures to prevent the spread of infection in the workplace, such as regularly checking your temperature, wearing masks, regular hand washing, and following the “new lifestyle” recommendations, such as avoiding the “3 Cs”. Please do not go to any eating or drinking establishments which are not implementing measures to prevent the spread of infection. Please discourage any family or friends who reside in other parks of Japan from returning to Kumamoto for Obon next week. To anyone who is elderly, has underlying conditions, or those who live together with either of the above, be particularly thorough in the steps you take to prevent infection when leaving the home. Here are some additional updates:

Summary of Governor’s remarks Governor Kabashima noted in his address yesterday that 70% of new cases between 20 July and 3 August are connected to either the Nagasu or Yamaga clusters. 50% of the remaining cases involve people who had contact with infected individuals outside of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Prefectural and City officials are planning to visit all establishments such as host clubs/cabarets etc, which involve close interaction between patrons and staff, in order to ensure they are following infection prevention measures. They plan to visit all such establishments in Kumamoto City and will ask businesses that are not implementing such measures to close.

The governor also asked the public not to harass, insult, harm, or slander people who happen to become infected, their family members, or their colleagues. https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/kiji_35191.html

Fourth death in the prefecture of a COVID-19 patient Yesterday (3 August), a man in his 70s who lived in Yamaga City and who had tested positive for COVID-19 passed away. The cause of death was heart failure. He became the fourth person to die after being confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in the prefecture.

37 new cases of COVID-19 between 3-4 August Yesterday, 31 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Kumamoto Prefecture. (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200804/k10012550141000.html?utm_int=news-social_contents_list-items_012)

In addition, 6 people were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on Monday.

The total number of cases announced to date in Kumamoto Prefecture is 280.

Two infections were confirmed among daycare workers in Yatsushiro. 17 new cases were announced in direct connection to JMU, 1 of whom resides in Arao City, the remaining 16 living in Nagasu Town.

  • Cases 274-280 (4 August) - Kumamoto City
  • Cases 271-273 (4 August) - Male employees of JMU, all residents of Nagasu Town
  • Case 270 (4 August) - Kumamoto City
  • Case 269 (4 August) - Tamana City medical worker in her 40s, spouse of Case 234
  • Cases 256-268 (4 August) - Male employees of JMU, all residents of Nagasu Town
  • Cases 254-255 (4 August) - Yatsushiro City females in their 40s, daycare staff members, close contacts of Case 232
  • Case 253 (4 August) - Tamana City female in her 50s, close contact of case 246.
  • Cases 251-252 (4 August) - Uki City males in their 20s, close contacts of Case 229.
  • Case 250 (4 August) - Uki City male in his 20s, investigation ongoing
  • Case 249 (4 August) - Male in his 70s living in Yamaga City, close contact of Case 181
  • Cases 247-248 (4 August) - Residents of Yamaga City nursing home
  • Case 246 (4 August) - 30 year old female in Tamana City, investigation ongoing
  • Case 245 (August 3) - JMU Cluster, resides in Arao Town
  • Case 244 (August 3) - Male medical worker in his 20s in Kikuyo Town, investigation into route of infection ongoing.
  • Case 243 (August 3) - Male in his 30s, Kumamoto City - Investigation into infection route ongoing
  • Case 242 (August 3) - Female in her 20s, Kumamoto City Investigation into infection route ongoing
  • Case 241 (August 3) - Male in his 50s, Uto City - Employee at a medical institution, Visted NEO Barbie
  • Cases 238-240 (August 3) - Yamaga City nursing home cluster

https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=32300&sub_id=82&flid=245603

Minister says second state of emergency “possible” if the spread of infection increases rapidly At a press conference which took place after a cabinet meeting earlier today, Katsunobu Kato who is the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare said that a declaration of another state of emergency is “possible” if the speed of the spread of infection were to increase rapidly.

Various local governments, such as Okinawa, Gifu and Mie prefectures have announced their own independent states of emergency, and the number of local governments requesting citizens to refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent outings or requesting business to reduce their operating hours is increasing.

In his comment, Minister Kato said that he recognises that various measures are being taken at the local level, but that “if the rate of the increase of infections increases rapidly, the possibility exists that a state of emergency could be called again.” Minister Kato went on to say that “When making a declaration, the government as a whole will make a comprehensive judgement after listening to the opinions of experts while looking at various indicators, as well as provide support such as improving access to testing.” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200804/k10012549981000.html?utm_int=news_contents_news-main_004