Message from the Mayor Regarding Golden Week Holiday (as of 4/28/2020)

If it were any other year, Golden Week would begin tomorrow; however, this year, I would like to make this a week of perseverance and cooperation.

What do I mean by perseverance? It means that even though it is Golden Week, I am asking you to continue to heed my request to avoid unnecessary outings, which I had previously expanded to include weekdays as well as weekends, during the holiday as well. While these outings are to be avoided, I ask that you keep in mind your own personal health during the holidays: be sure to get some exercise, take a walk in your neighborhood or stop by your local park. These are great ways to both lift your spirits and keep you healthy. When you do go out, use the spaces available to you wisely; ensure that you are doing all that you can to prevent infection (wear a mask, wash your hands thoroughly), avoid crowded places, and be sure to practice proper social distancing.

What do I mean by cooperation? It means making smart choices for the good of the collective group: choices which will lessen the risk of being infected, and if you do happen to become infected, choices which will stop the spread of the virus to others.

Going to grocery stores or shopping arcades to buy necessities for everyday life is an unavoidable task for our citizens. I ask that business owners continue to encourage the use of hand sanitizers before and after patrons leave your stores, and to promote social distancing for customers lining up for checkout. I also ask that you avoid holding special limited-time sales to avoid causing crowds, and where possible, you establish priority shopping times for expecting mothers, the elderly, and those with disabilities.

Regarding medical facilities and live-in care facilities for the elderly and the disabled: ever since COVID-19 began, the staff at these facilities have worked on the frontlines, risking infection and their lives, every single day. To these men and women, I express my utmost respect and heartfelt gratitude for their service.

With recent cases of COVID-19 occurring in hospital and in care facilities, I would like to ask our care workers and medical workers to continue to be vigilant about their health, and to implement strict infection countermeasures for the safety of their patients and residents.

Infectious diseases are a threat to everyone. Prejudice, discrimination, libel, and slander against COVID-19 patients, medical workers/care workers, or their respective families only serve to accentuate the fact that infectious diseases are a threat; it does nothing to cure them.

 I ask that all citizens understand that this is a fight against a virus, not a fight between those infected and those not. Understand that what is important right now, as COVID-19 continues to spread, is helping one another and cooperation.

Health care professionals and experts, businesses, and citizens, once again, I ask you to continue to work to fight the spread of COVID-19. Together, we shall overcome these trying times.

April 28, 2020

MATSUI Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima