Hiroshima Prefectural Government COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures (as of 2/22/2021)

Regarding the current state of COVID-19 infections: thanks to your cooperation, all indicators for both Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City are below the warning thresholds, and it is estimated that we will soon be in stable Level 1 conditions.

With this, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government has ended its Intensive COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures as of February 21, 2021, and has, as a general rule, lifted all formal requests to citizens and businesses, such as limiting outings and shortening business hours.

However, in light of preventing situations with increased risk of infection, the prefecture has announced an amended version of their COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures (henceforth known as intensive measures) which details infection prevention measures that citizens should continue to practice from here forward. An excerpt can be found below:

Formal requests which have been lifted with the end of intensive measures

All formal requests to citizens and businesses to limit outings and reduce the number of workers in office have been lifted. In addition, formal requests for dining establishments, other facilities, and events to shorten business hours have also been lifted.

Infection prevention measures to continue after the end of intensive measures

Q: Why is it necessary to continue these measures?

A: When the prefecture saw a sharp increase in infections last December, once we crossed the warning threshold, we saw a rapid increase in the spread of infection. Based on this experience, should the situation once again escalate to near warning threshold levels, we must once again prepare to limit citizen activity. However, as these limits have a huge impact socially and economically, we would ideally like to avoid them as much as possible. In order to do that, we must continue to keep the infection level at a low AND continue with the following measures:

• Strict adherence to basic infection prevention measures
• Strict adherence to infection prevention measures at dining establishments
• Taking the utmost caution when travelling to regions with increased infections

Strict adherence to basic infection prevention measures

It is of the utmost importance that each and every one of you continues to practice basic infection prevention measures without fail, including avoiding the 3Cs, wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and practicing coughing etiquette.

In addition, if you develop symptoms such as a fever or cough, limit your outings and be sure to consult with your regular doctor or contact the Hiroshima City COVID-19 Call Center.

We ask for the continued cooperation of each and every one of our citizens in continuing to adhere to these basic measures.

Strict adherence to infection prevention measures at dining establishments

We ask that our citizens choose to dine out at establishments that have physical infection prevention measures in place.

Taking the utmost caution when travelling to regions with increased infections

We continue to ask that citizens avoid travel, as much as possible, to areas under State of Emergency (etc).

We also ask that you seriously reconsider travel plans to/from regions with increased infections

• Areas where prefectural governments have called for avoiding unnecessary outings
• Areas where the number of new infections for the most recent week have been over 15 per 100,000 people

PCR Testing Centers

We have decided to extend the operations of the five PCR Testing Centers in the prefecture as of the end of February. As the formal request to dining establishments for shortened hours of operation under intensive measures has been lifted as of February 21, beginning February 22, those who dined at Hiroshima City establishments under shortened hour restrictions will no longer be eligible to use these testing centers.

Regarding the Nagarekawa and Kan-on PCR Testing Centers, which serve as monitoring points, we will offer testing every day to anyone living or working in Hiroshima City (limited to the first 500 people to make an appointment).

Please note that appointments in advance are required to use this service; testing is offered free of charge.

PCR Testing Center Addresses and Hours

Central Shintenchi Assembly Hall

• Hours: 11 am to 5 pm (including weekends)
• Address: 7-9 Shintenchi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima (parking not available)

Former Hiroshima West Airport

• Hours: 11 am to 5 pm (including weekends)
• Address: Kan-on-shin-machi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima (to the right in front of Marina Hop; drive-thru testing only)

Eligibility

1. Employees and other related personnel at elderly care facilities, care facilities for those with disabilities, medical institutions, dining establishments, barbershops and salons, and massage facilities; fire department emergency personnel; those who work with waste management (to make a reservation call: 050-1741-6373; reception hours: 10 am to 5 pm)
2. Residents living or working in Hiroshima City (beginning 2/22; limited to first 500 people/day) (to make a reservation, call: 082-236-3200; reception hours: 10 am to 8 pm; from 2/27 on: 10 am to 5 pm)

To Those Being Tested

• You must make an appointment in advance (to avoid crowding)
• When making an appointment, we will confirm your name, contact information, number of people being tested, and whether or not your are eligible
• Do NOT eat/drink, gargle, or brush your teeth 30 minutes prior to your test
• Those who test positive will be contacted the following day (as a general rule); those who test negative can confirm their results on the Hiroshima Prefecture website.

Conduct active epidemiological surveys and strengthen our testing system to ensure early detection and prevent clusters

In order to prevent another wave of infection, Hiroshima Prefecture will continue to conduct active epidemiological surveys and strengthen our testing system in order to ensure early detection and prevent cluster outbreaks.

Should we begin to see signs of another wave of infections, we will strengthen our testing systems and work to contain the number of infected patients through measures such as centralized PCR testing when necessary.

Five Key Points to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

• Wear a mask even with friends and family
• Be willing and be accommodating when it comes to taking time off work
• Early detection benefits everyone: don’t wait to get tested
• Take caution when travelling to regions with increased infections
• Use physical infection-via-droplets prevention measures (partitions, etc) and ventilation to ensure safety while dining out

We ask for your cooperating in adhering to these five points to prevent another wave of infections.