Kochi’s Declaration ofEnhanced BA.5 Countermeasures
Kochi Prefecture’s COVID-19 Level: Special Measures (Purple)

Period16 th Aug 2022 to 16 th Sep 2022

Kochi’s Declaration of Enhanced BA.5 Countermeasures
The infection situation in this prefecture has remained extremely high, with more than 1,000 new daily infections
confirmed since the beginning of August. This includes more than 100 new daily infected elderly people who are at higher
risk of severe symptoms.
With the increase in infections among the elderly, hospitalized patients with moderate and above symptoms are also
increasing. Our health and medical system are struggling with this difficult situation. We have a continuously highoccupancy rate of hospital beds, frequent outbreaks of clusters at medical institutions, and a shortage of manpower
caused by infections and close contact among healthcare workers.
If the infection spreads further, we will be in a critical situation where our medical facilities cannot operate properly.
Therefore, Kochi Prefecture will implement "Kochi's Enhanced BA.5 Countermeasures" based on the nation'sframework, until the 16th of September. Kochi residents are urged to follow the requests of this countermeasure to avoid
a health and medical care system crisis.
We ask for the understanding and cooperation of all residents of Kochi, in order to bring the situation under control assoon as possible.

Requests as part of Kochi’s Declaration ofEnhanced BA.5 Countermeasures ①
１ For everyone living in Kochi Prefecture（１）In order to avoid a health and medical care system crisis＜There is a shortage of outpatient fever clinics＞○ For those with symptoms of fever, etc. but who have relatively mild symptoms andare at low risk of severe illness, please make use of the prefectural government’s
distributed antigen identification test kits and the online definitive diagnosis after
self-testing, instead of having a medical examination at an outpatient clinic.

＜Emergency departments are also under pressure＞○ Please limit the use of ambulances and emergency departments to cases of genuine
emergencies.
○ If you are not sure whether to call an ambulance or visit a hospital, please call Kochi's
emergency medical phone at #7119.

Requests as part of Kochi’s Declaration ofEnhanced BA.5 Countermeasures ②（２）In order to prevent the spread of infection○ The elderly and people with underlying medical conditions are to refrain as much as
possible from going out unnecessarily to protect their own lives and health.
○ Do your best to refrain from visiting those who are at high risk of becoming severely ill, like theelderly and those with medical conditions, to protect them. If you need to visit them, please test
negative before visiting.
○ When going out, take the infection prevention measures, and do your best to move in a small
group consisting of family members or people whom you usually meet with.
○ The temporary test center at JR Kochi Station's operation will be extended until end-August.
Proactively use the center if you are concerned that you may be infected, or have a high needto prevent infection, such as being in contact with the elderly or dining in a large group.

２ For business owners〇 Promote teleworking, etc., and ensure that employees take care of their physical condition andensure an environment in which they can take leave even if they are only slightly unwell.
〇 When an employee returns from work after being infected or having been a close contact, please
do not require them to present a medical certificate.

【COVID-19】 Requests to everyone in Kochi Prefecture（１/３）
Kochi Prefecture's COVID-19 Level: Purple - Special Measures (as of 16th August 2022)
Requests from 16 th August to 16 th September○For everyone living in Kochi Prefecture（１）Take infection prevention measures, including the correct use of non-woven masks (see attached for more details on mask-wearing; bothindoors, outdoors and regarding children), avoidance of the 3Cs, adequate ventilation measures, and frequent hand disinfection (especiallythose who are at high risk of severe symptoms, such as the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, and the unvaccinated)（２）A third dose of vaccine restores the effectiveness of the vaccine against infection and decreases the severity of the symptoms. Get your third
vaccine as soon as possible, regardless of the manufacturer. Infection numbers continue to persist throughout the prefecture, particularly
amongst the younger generation with low third vaccination rates. Younger generations should also be proactive in getting their third vaccine.
The fourth dose of the vaccine is being distributed with the aim of preventing severe symtomps when infected. People 60 years old and over,and those 18 years and over who have an underlying medical condition, should receive their fourth dose as soon as possible.
（３）Take infection prevention measures at home, including ventilating rooms, disinfecting common areas, avoiding the sharing of towels andcrockery. Households living with people at high risk of severe symptoms are to wear masks when talking, even at home.
（４）To prepare for recuperation at home in the event of infection, stockpile food and daily necessities on a regular basis, just like for disasters.
（５）Install the COVID-19 Contact Application, “COCOA”. It will notify you of close contact with COVID-19 positive users.
（６）Do not talk badly or discrimate against healthcare workers, infected people, and their families.
（７）People with symptoms should visit a registered medical institution*1 for a free test. People without symptoms but who are worried
about being infected can take a free test at one of the prefectural testing centers or local pharmacies*2.
*1 List of registered medical institutions: https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/soshiki/130401/cov19̲kensakyouryoku.html*2 List of pharmacies: https://www.kochi-muryokensa.com○For business owners（１）Carry out infection prevention measures according to the industry-specific guidelines (especially mask-wearing)（２）Carry out all basic infection prevention measures, such as adequate ventilation, frequent hand disinfection, and disinfection of common areas.
（３）Reduce people interaction with initiatives like telework and staggered working hours.
（４）Medical institutions and elderly care facilities should ensure a high level of infection prevention measures and seek to improve them.

１ Regarding eating with others（１）When eating with others, take infective prevention measures, including the correct use of non-woven masks, avoidance of the 3Cs, adequate
ventilation measures, and frequent hand sanitisation.
（２）As much as possible, reduce your group size and time together.
（３）When conversation is the main activitiy, wear your masks as much as possible to prevent droplet infection.
（４）When there is a great need to prevent infection, such as gatherings of many people, the host should confirm that all participants either have had
their third vaccination, or have tested negative in a recent antigen qualitative test. Kochi residents can take a free test at one of theprefectural testing centers.
（５）When eating out together at a restaurant, try your best to choose from the Kochike Anshinkaisyoku list.
（６）In particular, do not do high-risk activities like drinking from the same cup, talking loudly, or singing karaoke without wearing a mask.

Mask-wearing Guidelines

Attachment

Based on 05/23/2022 Basic Response Policy
Prepared by the Disaster Management and Prevention Division

Guidelines○ Wearing masks is required as part of infection prevention measures.
〇 If at least 2 meters of social distancing is observed and there is minimal conversation, wearing masks
indoors is not required.
○ If at least 2 meters of social distancing is observed, wearing masks outdoors is not required.
○ Even in outdoor situations where passing by others is inevitable, such as when commuting to work, if
there is minimal conversation, wearing masks is not required.
Social distancing is possible（At least 2 meters)
Indoors（Note １）
NormalConversation

Wearing masks isadvised（Note ２）

Minimalconversation

Wearing masks is notrequired

Social distancing is not possible
Indoors（Note １）

Outdoors

Wearing masks is advised

Wearing masks isadvised

Wearing masks is advised（Example ３）

Wearing masks isnot required（Example ２）

Outdoors
Wearing masks is notrequired（Example １）（Note 1）In places where air circulation is obstructed, such as inside buildings, underground malls or in busses and trains.
（Note 2）Masks may be removed if infection prevention measures, such as adequate ventilation, are in place.
（Example 1）Isolated activities such as running.
（Example 2）When passing by people outdoors, such as when commuting to work.
（Example 3）When on the train.
※In light of preventing heatstroke during summer, it is advised to not wear masks in situations where it is not required.
※Wear masks when meeting with the elderly, visiting the hospital, or other situations involving contact with high-risk individuals.

Regarding Masks for Pre-Elementary School Children○ It is not advised for children under the age of 2 (infants and toddlers), to wear masks.
○ Similarly, Pre-school children (over the age of 2) are not required to wear masks.

【COVID-19】 Requests to everyone in Kochi Prefecture（２/３）
Kochi Prefecture's COVID-19 Level: Purple - Special Measures (as of 16th August 2022)
Requests from 16 th August to 16 th September
２ Regarding going out and traveling（１）When going out, follow the infection prevention measures.
（２）Avoid going to high-risk places, such as crowded places, poorly ventilated areas, or facilities with poor infection control measures.
（３）Refrain from visiting the elderly in facilities, as much as possible.
（４）Those who are coming into contact with those who are at high risk of severe symptoms, such as the elderly and people with underlying
medical conditions, are recommended to have at least three doses of vaccines or test negative in an antigen qualitative test*
beforehand. *Kochi residents can take a free test at one of the prefectural testing centers.
（５）If you have a fever or are feeling unwell, do not travel to other prefectures.
（６）Follow the requests* issued by the governor of your destination prefecture, including what to do when eating out.
*For example, the Okinawa Prefecture requires visitors to the prefecture to have received three doses of vaccine or to be tested
negative in an antigen qualitative test.

３ Regarding events
When holding events, observe the following points and take infection control measures based on industry-specific guidelines.
① For events more than 5,000 people and more than 50% of the facility’s capacity, an infection prevention safety plan is to be submitted to theprefecture at least two weeks in advance. With the plan and the prefecture’s approval, 100% facility capacity is allowed. *There should be no loud voices.
② The final number of attendees for events other than ① should fulfill both the first and second points (whichever is lower)
・Point 1: Events with no loud voices: 100% capacity | Events with loud voices: 50% capacity
・Point 2: The possible number of attendees is either 5,000 or 50% of the facility's capacity, whichever is higher.
Prepare a "checklist" describing infection prevention measures of your event, publish it on your website or other platforms, and keep it available forone year after the event (submission to the Prefecture is not required).
*Loud voice events are events actively promoting the audience to use a louder than normal voice. Events not taking necessary measures against this count as well.

４ Regarding facilities for the elderly（１）Carry out possible additional vaccinations for the elderlies and staff, as quick as possible.
（２）Thoroughly implement measures based on the “Manual for Infection Control in Healthcare Settings”, such as wearing masks, opening
windows during pick-up and drop-off, and having workers who have a fever take time off.
（３）To prevent infection passing on from staff to the elderlies, ensure that all staff take infection prevention measures on a daily basis andmanage their health properly.
（４）To prevent infection from visitors, consider implementing measures such as online visits.
（５）In day care facilities, take more thorough infection control measures, such as separating the movement paths of different users.

【COVID-19】 Requests to everyone in Kochi Prefecture（３/３）
Kochi Prefecture's COVID-19 Level: Purple - Special Measures (as of 16th August 2022)
Requests from 16 th August to 16 th September
５ Regarding infant and child care facilities（１）Prevent infection spread when performing child care activities, such as by separating children into as small groups as possible.
（２）In the event that adequate infection prevention measures cannot be taken, refrain from holding events involving large groups of people.
This includes postponing parent participation events.
（３）Ensure that children with a fever or other symptoms are not allowed into the facility.
（４）Ensure that employees with a fever or other symptoms take leave, and that the additional early vaccinations available to staff are being
taken.

６ Regarding school and club activities（１）Seek immediate medical attention should any symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or fever develop.
（２）Masks are not required to be worn when the risk of heatstroke is high. This includes commuting to and from school, P.E classes and during sports
club activities. However, should you remove your mask, ensure that infection prevention measures, such as adequate ventilation and social
distancing, are taken.
（３）Please pay particular attention to the following- Refrain from speaking while eating. After finishing eating, ensure masks are worn again before speaking.
- Refrain from speaking in changing rooms.

Regarding club activities at prefectural schools（１）Limit club activities to roughly 2 hours on weekdays and 3 hours on one weekend (choose either Saturday or Sunday).
For clubs that are scheduled to compete in a high-level competition within the next two weeks, club activities may run forup to three hours on weekdays and four hours on weekends, after receiving approval from the principal.
（２）Refrain from playing practice matches with other schools outside the prefecture. Practice matches with schools inside theprefecture are permitted at the discretion of the principal, after taking into account the infection situation on campus.
However, please refrain from activities involving overnight stays.