This is a message for Kochi Prefecture citizens.
(​https://www.pref.kochi.lg.jp/soshiki/010101/files/2020030300305/file_2020494202928_1.pdf​)(Some repetitive sections have been shortened in this translation.)○ Today in regards to the spread of COVID 19, 10 new cases have been confirmed within theprefecture.
○ Regarding the location of the confirmed cases, Kochi City has 8 people and the area underthe Hata Welfare Health Center has 2 people. Of these, 4 of the cases are people in close
contact with previous confirmed cases and 1 case is a nurse who was working in the Kochi
Medical Center infectious disease ward. It has been determined by Kochi Medical Center thatthe nurse was exposed while working with confirmed patients. Thus we can trace the nurse’s
route of exposure. Therefore, 5 of the 10 confirmed cases can be traced to early cases. The
remaining 5 cases have unknown routes of infection.
The Mayor of Kochi city will give further details in a press conference held later.
○ Among the 10 new confirmed cases was the nurse working in the infectious disease ward at
Kochi Medical Center. It is deeply saddening to see a medical professional, working valiantly on
the front lines of the COVID-19 response, come down with the disease.
○ With that being said, the staff assigned to this ward work there exclusively. Furthermore,
nurses and other staff who are believed to have already been in close contact with the disease
are being asked to stay home. I would like to reassure all medical center outpatients, and those
hospitalized in other wards, that I believe there is no risk of the virus being spread. While it istrue that there will be a reduction in staff as a result of more nurses self-isolating, I have been
informed that staff members from other wards will cover for them. Please rest assured that
infected patients will still be able to receive medical treatment without disruption.
○ The Kochi Medical Center is acting as a core medical institution for the central area of theprefecture’s infection control measures. We will continue to take great efforts in combating thenovel coronavirus, and with Kochi Medical Center as the starting point, we are asking for thecontinued cooperation of all medical staff who are caring for patients.
○ At the same time I would like to make the following request to Kochi citizens: Please cheer on
the various staff working in medical facilities at the moment. Do not allow the patients, medical
personnel, and families of these people to experience insults and unfair treatment.
○ In addition, of the 10 cases identified today, one of the people is a preschool worker in Kochi
City. As the preschool falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Kochi City, the Mayor of Kochi
City will provide more details about the response at the preschool.

From the prefectural government, we will prepare for the possibility that COVID-19 has spreadto preschoolers, the prefectural government will firmly fulfill its role through testing andpreparation of medical facilities.This concludes the summary of the 10 confirmed cases today.
○ The following are my requests to the people of Kochi, especially as 5 of the confirmed cases
today have unidentified routes of infection.
○ In this one week, if we include the 10 cases today, we have 28 newly confirmed cases. Lastweek we had 9 cases confirmed. We are seeing an increase of three times more cases perweek. This shows that the virus infection is now spreading rapidly.
○ These circumstances can only be interpreted as Kochi Prefecture being “just one step awayfrom being subjected to a declaration of a state of emergency.” Council leader Yoshikawa of theprefecture’s Council of Infection Control, also shares this view.
○ In the coming days, I want to do whatever possible to avoid a continuous spread that will leadto the declaration of a state of emergency. For this reason, now more than ever we must takeeven stronger measures against the spread of infection.
○ This means taking measures to reduce the chances of human contact. The specific measures
are as follows:○ The first major point is that no one should leave their house for non-essential and non-urgent
matters until the 26th (2 weeks), this includes during the day as well. Previously, I requested
everyone to not leave their house during the night, and to especially not go to places that fallunder the category of the 3Cs (Closed rooms, Crowded places, Close-contact settings).
However, now I request that you do not leave your house for non-essential and non-urgent
matters no matter what time of the day it is. Going outside to get things needed for daily life or to
do work that you must complete, would be considered essential or urgent.
○ The second major point is that for the present, please follow these requests:
1. We would like organizers to cancel or postpone all events and for citizens to refrain fromparticipating in events where many people gather.
2. I would also ask you to refrain from eating with anyone other than family members.
3. As I asked before, please do not travel to cities with large numbers of confirmed cases.
4. If you have travelled to Kochi from an area that falls under an emergency declaration
please refrain from going outside for any non-essential, non-urgent purpose. We also
request you monitor your health.
I ask especially that the people of Kochi City and Sukumo City, where the spread has been
concentrated, and those who travel there for work or school, to follow these requests.

○ In addition, I would like to talk about the system of medical care provided. We have 10 new
cases today, 8 of which are in Kochi City. We are facing the pressure of limited healthcare wecan provide to our citizens, especially in the central part of the prefecture. Currently, we have
patients at the Kochi Medical Center, which is designated as a medical institution for infectious
diseases, and at the Hata Citizen Hospital. In the future we recognise that we may need torequest help from other hospitals, but we may also urgently need to use ordinary lodging
facilities, and so we will start to organize this from next week.
○ Regarding the situation as a whole, we would once again like to make a request to the citizensof Kochi. From the end of last month a second wave of infections has occurred in Kochi
Prefecture. Compared to the first wave there are more young people with confirmed cases.
In general, younger people have stronger immune systems and physical strength. There is ahigh possibility they may be unaware of their infection and spread the virus to others
unknowingly.
With that, especially (but not limited to) younger people, please assume there is a possibility
you have been infected and take care not to spread it to other people. I myself am also bearing
this in mind and presenting today while wearing a mask, assuming I may have been infected.
Please wear masks and make every effort you can to limit the spread of COVID-19. With thepreventative measures that have been taken up until now, and for those who have not yet taken
action, we ask for your cooperation and understanding to change your conduct during thesetimes.
○ In order to protect oneself, one's dear family, and in order to protect our home, Kochi, we
sincerely ask for your cooperation. Thank you.

2020 April 9Kochi Prefecture Covid-19 Emergency Headquarters Chief(Governor) Hamada Seiji