Joe Tomei here with another update from the Prefectural JET advisors, Lily McDermott & Chase Sutherland.
===== Hope everyone had a great weekend. We’re sending another update sooner than we expected, but there’s some good news. Here it is!
Prefecture risk level lowered to Level 3 Due to the decrease in new confirmed infections, Kumamoto Prefecture has lowered the risk level to Level 3, effective 22 September. In the one-week period from 15 September to 21 September, just 2 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Kumamoto. Further, in the tests being conducted among employees of dining establishments in central Kumamoto City, so far 169 such tests have been conducted but none yet have been positive. Currently, there are 18 people hospitalized in the prefecture due to COVID-19.
Kumamoto Prefecture is no longer requesting residents to avoid all travel outside the prefecture. However, the Prefecture still asks all residents to avoid the 3 Cs as well as travel to locations where the virus is spreading.
The prefecture is also no longer asking people to avoid dining in groups of 10 or more people. However, the Prefecture does ask that you avoid participating in any such events if you have a fever or any cold symptoms, and to continue to implement the “new lifestyle” recommendations. https://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/common/UploadFileOutput.ashx?c_id=3&id=32638&sub_id=44&flid=252522
National government to allow new arrivals of foreigners from all countries The national government has announced that it is planning to allow for new entry of foreigners from all countries who acquire medium- to long-term visas (of 3 months or longer) as early as 1st October, including new entries and exchange students, but not tourists. People with newly issued visas, on the condition that they self-isolate for 2 weeks. In addition, the government is planning to limit the number of new entries of foreigners to 1000 per day. https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN9Q6G46N9QUTFK003.html https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO64124630T20C20A9MM0000/
Kumamoto clinic provides elective PCR Tests for people who plan to travel abroad A clinic located in Mashiki Town is now providing elective PCR tests available for anyone who needs a PCR test before exiting Japan in order to visit a foreign country (previously only offered by clinics in Fukuoka and Kagoshima) . Here is information on that clinic: Haga Pediatric Clinic 408-1, Miyazono, Mashiki-machi, Kamimashiki-gun Tel：096-289-7020
