Intensive COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures (Excerpt; as of 5/7)

Since late March, the number of newly reported COVID-19 infections (per 100,000 people for the past week) in Hiroshima Prefecture has been gradually increasing (which indicates another wave of infections), and infections have continued to spread much in the same way that they did in December of last year.

Looking at the state of infections across Japan, the situation continues to worsen: along with a third round of State of Emergency announced for four prefectures on April 23 and semi-emergency measures implemented in seven prefectures, a number of other prefectures have formally requested that the semi-emergency measures be applied to them also.

At this point in time, Hiroshima Prefecture is at Level 3, and looking at the pattern of new cases, Hiroshima City is at the equivalent of Level 4; conditions in Fukuyama City are also worsening and the situation remains critical. At this rate, there is a very real risk that infections may spread to the entirety of the prefecture. (Newly reported infections (per 100,000) for the week until 5/6/2021 — Hiroshima Prefecture: 20.6, Hiroshima City: 30.5, Fukuyama City: 16.2)

Looking at analyses of cases, roughly 60% of new cases are in Hiroshima City and 80% are those in their 50s and younger. As for the route of infections, next to infections within households, infections at dining establishments (especially those in the nightlife area of Naka Ward in Hiroshima City) and in the workplace hold the largest percentages. We have also seen clusters at schools and a worrying increase in infections in the younger generation.

Experts believe that we must implement strict measures to reduce the number of people going out in all areas across the prefecture and break the cycle of infection via person-to-person contact. As we have continued to see positive cases of infection since April in the downtown Hiroshima City nightlife area, experts also believe that it is necessary to implement measures such as shortened hours of operation for businesses, as well as strict adherence to infection prevention measures by all prefectural citizens, and call for early testing, medical care, and cooperation in epidemiological surveys by anyone who experiences symptoms.

As an increase in infections post-Golden Week is likely, and under the increased threat of COVID-19 variants, which have become the primary source of infection nationwide and bring with them an increase in severe cases and deaths, the more that infections continue to spread, the more time and stronger measures we will need to keep the situation under control. Together with our current Intensive Spring PCR Testing, we must implement intensive infection prevention measures in order to get our numbers below the warning level.

Period of Intensive Infection Prevention Measures

May 8 (Sat) to June 1 (Tues), 2021 (25 days)

Formal Requests to Citizens and Businesses

Reduce person-to-person contact

In order to reduce person-to-person contact by 80% through a reduction in the number of people out by 50%, we formally request the following during the intensive measures period in addition to strict adherence to infection prevention measures:

Reduce outings

Reduce all outings and time spent out in half, including necessary everyday errands and shopping. In particular, further reduce outings after 8 pm. Note that this restriction does not apply to school commutes or visits to medical institutions. Also note that when outings are necessary, always wear a mask and remember to avoid contact with others as much as possible.

Examples of necessary outings: visits to medical institutions, shopping trips for food/medicine/daily necessities, necessary work/school commutes, activities necessary for maintaining lifestyles and health, such as exercise/walks outside in your neighborhood.

Commutes to work

Reduce person-to-person contact during work commutes through promoting walking/cycling to work, staggered working hours, etc. Aim to reduce the number of people in office by 70% by making use of web meetings and work from home. In addition, for those working in places which cannot make use of measures such as work from home, aim to reduce the number of people in the workplace by 70% through measures such as spreading people out in other locations, etc.

As we have formally requested that all citizens further reduce outings after 8 pm, curb working hours after 8 pm unless absolutely necessary for the business. Note that this restriction does not apply to essential workers.

Strengthen infection prevention measures in the workplace

Implement the following to avoid the 3Cs and prevent infection:

• Appoint an infection prevention measures leader.
• Stagger lunch/break hours.
• Regularly disinfect your hands when entering/exiting the workplace.
• Regularly ventilate and use humidifiers (be sure to keep a record of implementation and readings).
• Raise awareness of the COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures Guide for Workplaces and strictly follow the items in the guide; make use of occupational health professionals, etc.

Going to dining establishments and infection prevention measures at said establishments

Avoid going to dining establishments with anyone other than those you live with. When going to dining establishments, choose Hiroshima Active Guard partners and COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures partner establishments who have implemented proper physical infection prevention measures such as acrylic panels. Be sure to also make use of the Hiroshima COVID-19 QR Code and cooperate with infection prevention measures in place at dining establishments.

Regarding dining establishments under formal requests for reduced hours: do not go to these establishments outside of their designated reduced hours.*

Do not drink in groups outside/in parks due to high risk of infection.

*From May 12 (Wed) to June 1 (Tues), 2021 (21 days), establishments offering alcohol in the following areas are formally requested to shorten business hours (alcohol sales end at 7 pm, close at 8 pm) or close entirely:

• Ebisu-cho 1-chome to 5-chome
• Horikawa-cho 1-chome to 4-chome
• Mikawa-cho 1-chome, 8-chome, 9-chome
• Shintenchi 1-chome, 6-chome, 7-chome
• All areas in Nagarekawa-cho, Yagembori, Kanayama-cho, Yayoi-cho, Tanaka-machi, Nishi-Hiratsuka-cho

Avoid travel to other regions

Do not travel to prefectures and regions under State of Emergency/semi-emergency measures as much as possible. 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 or areas where the number of new infections for the most recent week have been over 15 per 100,000 people).

We also ask that you do not travel to/from Hiroshima City and Fukuyama City as much as possible. Please note that this does not apply to travel for work, school, or medical visits.

Stop slander and discrimination

Anyone can catch COVID-19. We ask that you act calmly and rationally: do not be swayed by fake or suspicious news or act in ways which violate someone’s human rights. NEVER slander or discriminate against those such as COVID-19 patients, their families, medical and welfare workers, or international residents.

Continuation of essential duties (those that ensure stable citizen life/the economy)

As Hiroshima City is at Level 4, businesses that are essential for stable citizen life and the economy, as well as those who support these businesses, should continue to do their duties according to the characteristics of their business while taking the necessary infection prevention measures.

Other measures

Early detection and quarantine

In order to find new infections in the early stages and offer appropriate medical care at hospitals or quarantine hotels, we will implement the following:

• Comprehensive epidemiological surveys
• Intensive PCR testing

Cluster response measures

As cluster outbreaks continue to occur at medical and elderly care facilities, as well as at schools, we will strengthen our measures to detect new patients (the cause of clusters) faster and end cluster outbreaks faster:

• Strengthen regular PCR testing for workers at medical institutions and elderly care facilities.
• Early facility intervention and facility infection management guidance by our Medical and Welfare Cluster Response Team.
• Formal requests to universities and schools: strict adherence to basic infection prevention measures by students; remind students of infection prevention measures during mealtimes. In addition, strict adherence to infection prevention measures in dorms and during clubs/extracurricular activities.