Table 4 the major epidemic prevention and control measures in Japan

1

Issued risk alert to the public

(1) On Jan 21, issued level 1 risk warning of infectious diseases to the whole of China.

(2) On Jan 23, issued level 2 risk warning of infectious diseases to Wuhan, China.

(3) On Jan 24, issued level 3 risk warning of infectious diseases to the whole of Hubei province, including Wuhan city, and suspended travel in China’s Hubei province.

2

Border control measures

(1) On 28 January, the Cabinet of Japan decided to designate novel Coronavirus infectious diseases as “designated diseases” based on the Law of infection and “quarantine diseases” based on the Quarantine Law. Infected people are banned from entering Japan. On Feb 1, the decree allowed authorities to require suspected patients to accept quarantines and be hospitalized, and banning travelers from China’s Hubei and Zhejiang provinces.

(2) On April 3, Japan tightened border control measures, banning foreigners from 73 countries and regions, including China. In addition, a person who enters Japan from all countries and regions, whether foreigners or Japanese, are required to be quarantined at home for 14 days.

3

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare launched the “Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control”

(1) The policies suggested citizens wash hands frequently, observe cough etiquette, and avoid public gatherings. It is also suggested that school closure, companies staggered commute.

(2) Patients with mild flu-like symptoms should stay at home

unless otherwise specified, and seek medical care after consulting the call center or a family doctor if their conditions change. The elderly and those with underlying diseases are encouraged to seek appropriate medical care at the early stage, given their vulnerability to the infection.

(3) Establish the surveillance system to grasp the situation of epidemic in Japan, while switching to use of PCR test for the confirmation of diagnosis necessary to treat pneumonia patients who require hospitalization, in communities where the number of patients continues to increase.

4

Prime Minister Calls for “self-restraint”

On Feb 26, the prime minister recommended that self-restraint remain 2 weeks, so the concerts and theaters were suspended or postponed nationwide. On March 10, the requirement expended the time of self-restraint with 10 days.

5

The prime minister called for nationwide school closure

The prime minister called for primary and secondary schools across the country to suspend classes from March 2 to March 20.

6

Declared “state of emergency” order

(1) The prime minister declared a “state of emergency” order and the establishment of the “new lifestyle” that prevents the spread of infection, including avoiding “3 Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings) and basic counter-infection measures such as keeping distance, wearing a mask, and washing hands.

(2) On May 25, Japan lifted the “state of emergency” order nationwide.