Ota International Exchange Centre Opening Commemoration Lecture
Health and Community Development Learnt Through Experiencing the COVID-19 Pandemic～Knowledge about Infectious Diseases to Know in the Context of Internationalisation～

Lecture Summary

Monday, May 23, 2022, 18:00 – 19:15
Ota International Exchange Centre※Also streamed live online

Lecturer: Kazuhiro Tateda
Professor, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Department of Collaborative Regional Infection Control
Director, Global Promotion Centre
Toho University School of Medicine

COVID-19・12/2019: An outbreak of pneumonia with an unknown cause in Wuhan, China, was reported tobe caused by a novel coronavirus.
・To date, about 500 million people have been infected and 6.2 million people have died. The
situation is still not likely to be brought under complete control.
●Characteristics of the coronavirus:
・Spike glycoproteins bind to human cells leading to infection
・“Tiny droplets” (microdroplets) emitted during speech, eating and drinking can lead to infection(aerosol infection), therefore following the 3 Cs to avoid initial risks of infection, using non-wovenmasks and frequently ventilating areas is important.
● Recent developments:
・Improved understanding of infection control measures and higher vaccination rates are thought
to have prevented a sharp increase in the number of infections.
●About airborne infection:
・Under some conditions, aerosol infections take the form of pseudo-airborne infections, so“protecting the space” (stressing the importance of ventilation) is important.
Infectious diseases from overseas to be careful about
・Particular attention should be paid to viruses (e.g. dengue fever), protozoa (e.g. malaria) and bacteria (e.g.
typhoid fever, tuberculosis).
・There are countries and regions overseas where dengue fever, Ebola and zika virus infections are
considered endemic.
・Where there is a small endemic or epidemic somewhere in the world, there is always a risk because it isunknown if or when it will become a major epidemic or even pandemic.
⇒ Knowing the pathogen, considering the routes of infection, and reacting calmly can effectively control theinfection. In the case of the current pandemic, it is thought that society demonstrated infection control precisely
during the Golden Week period.
Tuberculosis (TB)
・The number of foreign-born TB cases in Japan is increasing, particularly among the youngergeneration.
・Ota City, being a city with many foreign residents, also needs support. Things such as further
improvement of the health check-up system and general access to medical care.
Hopes for Ota through the Ota International Exchange Center
・Home to Haneda Airport = a need for caution towards infection diseases
・A strong infection control centre
・A city with many foreign-born residents
・A city actively promoting the further
・A city which is kind to foreigners
revitalisation of international exchange⇓Being prepared for crisis management is crucial when implementing international exchange= In other words, knowing about infectious diseases and taking appropriate infection control
measures.
・It is important for Ota City residents to utilize the centre and promote international exchange
together.

Q&A
Q: Were there any cultural differences around the world that you were able to notice due to thepandemic?
A: For one, I realised how different “mask culture” is overseas. While there were some countries
that implemented the compulsory wearing of masks, I thought it was good how the majority ofpeople in Japan were able to cooperate and just wear masks without much of that. On the other
hand, there were also some excessive actions by some, such as the “self-restraint police” who acted
against those who did not cooperate in wearing masks. It made me realise both the strengths andweaknesses within Japan’s culture.
Recently, new recommendations regarding masks have been announced. With regard to that, I
think perhaps it is time for each of us to understand COVID-19, use our imagination to avoid risks
and take effective but less burdensome infection control measures, such as removing the mask
when outdoors when there are no people around.
Q: We often see in the media that there are many places overseas where masks are not worn.
When I think about how more and more foreigners will soon be able to come to Japan, I honestly
feel very anxious. What is your view regarding that?
A: In Japan, there is common experience and culture, so it is easy to handle the situation. But as thenumber of foreigners permitted to enter Japan increases in the future, some of them may not beaware of Japanese practices for dealing with new coronavirus infections, so we will need to devise
new methods to handle that. It will become important for the government to start actively
spreading this kind of information, for example – at airports, so that people entering Japan are able
easily understand Japanese culture and customs.
Q: With Ota City being the “air gateway” to Japan, some may feel anxious about the possibility of
new infectious diseases entering the city. How should we go about our lives while dealing withsuch new infectious diseases in the future?
A: This is precisely the reason behind me holding this lecture. By knowing the pathogen,considering the routes of infection, and responding calmly, we will be able to effectively control theinfection disease. I think that by regularly organising lectures and such like today, we can become acity that works together with its residents in the fight against infectious diseases. We want tocooperate as well.

Q: Have any medications (silver bullet) for COVID-19 been developed around the world?
A: Oral medications have been developed in order to prevent the infection getting progressively
more severe. There are Japanese companies that are applying to develop drugs that are considered
to be even more effective. When approved and made available to us in the near future, it could gofrom a category Ⅱ infectious disease to a category Ⅴ infectious disease*1. If it becomes acategory Ⅴ infectious disease, the response towards it will be similar to that of influenza. So, once
we get to that point, we will be able to see things starting to return to normal.
Q: Are there any differences in infection control measures between Japan and other countries? (e.g.
masks, hand washing, avoiding 3 Cs, alcohol disinfection)
A: In other countries, when the number of infections and deaths is high, strict measures are taken toreduce the numbers at once, but once the effects are seen and the situation calms down, it seems thatthe measures are also loosened. I think the fact the number of infections almost always increases again
after removing the measures suggests that measures should not be stopped so abruptly simply because
the situation appears to have subsided. It is important to relax the measures in stages, being vigilant andmonitoring the situation closely. In Japan, the relaxing of measures concerning mask wearing is being
done in such a way. Authorities haven’t suggested stopping mask wearing completely. Instead, they cameto the decision that masks should be still worn in places where not wearing one could still be consideredrisky, but not necessary in places where the risk is considered to be low. This kind of approach is Japan’s
strategy.
*1：The classification is based on Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care forPatients with Infectious Diseases (the Infectious Diseases Control Law).