Policy of Saitama University regarding COVID-19 for the period after Mar 22, 2022 (Notification)

  Based on the “Requests based on the Priority Measures for Prevention of Spread of Infectious Diseases in Saitama Prefecture” issued by the Governor of Saitama Prefecture on January 19, 2022, February 10, 2022 and March 4, 2022 the University has been implementing the necessary measures. The request was lifted on March 21, 2022. Accordingly, Saitama University’s policy after March 22 will be as follows.

○Saitama University’s policy for dealing with COVID-19  
　Saitama University’s policy for dealing with COVID-19 has been kept at Risk Level 2. 
　In addition to reconfirming the actions to be taken at Risk Level 2 in COVID-19 manual, please continue to take basic infection prevention measures described below.
　・ Avoid the three Cs; Closed spaces, Crowded places, Close-contact setting.
　・ Keep distance.
　・ Wear a mask.
　・ Wash and sanitize hands.
　The details of each item are as follows.

○Student 
 [Entry to Okubo campus]  
　Please continue to take basic infection preventｿion measures.

[Research]  
　In addition to the basic infection prevention measures, the following measures should be taken.
　・ Keep a door open as much as possible.  
　・ Record the name(s) of person(s) in the same space.

[Extracurricular activities]  
　Extracurricular activities can be done under certain restrictions while taking measures to prevent infection.  
　http://www.saitama-u.ac.jp/support/kagai/05/20220207.pdf

[Traveling abroad]  
　Please follow the infection risk information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Japan and the country/region concerned.

○Faculty members and staffs
 [Research]  
　In addition to the basic infection prevention measures, the following measures should be taken.
　・ Keep a door open as much as possible.  
　・ Record the name(s) of person(s) in the same space.  

[Domestic business trip]  
　Please continue to take basic infection prevention measures.

[Overseas business trip]  
　Please follow the infection risk information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Japan and the country/region concerned.

[Conference and Ceremony]  
　Please continue to take basic infection prevention measures.  
　The method of holding the meeting (face-to-face, remote, etc.) should be determined by the chairperson in the case of a conference, and by the organizer in the case of a ceremony.

○Administrative and technical staff 
 [Staggered commuting]  
  Staggered commuting is recommended following the “Request to all residents and businesses in Saitama Prefecture” issued by the Governor of Saitama on March 17, 2022.

[Teleworking]  
  Teleworking is recommended as much as possiblefollowing the “Request to all residents and businesses in Saitama Prefecture” issued by the Governor of Saitama on March 17, 2022.

[Infection prevention measures in the workplace]  
  In addition to basic infection prevention measures, the following measures should be encouraged.
・Open the entrances and exits of the building and offices as much as possible.
・Use partitions to partition counters, desk-to-desk spaces, meeting tables, etc., where speech is involved or where distance between people cannot be maintained.
・Pay attention to “switching places” and take thorough measures to prevent infection in break rooms, changing rooms, smoking areas, etc.

○Attached school and kindergarten 
・ Depending on the situation, staggered attendance and class shortening might be implemented. In this case, those concerned will be contacted by each school and kindergarten
・ With regard to extracurricular activities, restrictions will be applied with reference to the “Manual of Hygiene Management in Schools ” (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) and the“ Notice of Thorough COVID-19 Countermeasures in Chorus Playing at Elementary Schools, Junior High Schools, Senior High Schools and Special Needs Schools ” (December 10, 2020 Joint Notice by the Director-General of Primary and Secondary Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Deputy Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs).  
・ Staggered commuting and teleworking are recommended for teachers and staffs.

○Outsider  
　Wearing a mask and hand hygiene are required.

○Others
　Since March 22, 2022, the Governor of Saitama Prefecture issued a “Request to all residents and businesses in Saitama Prefecture” on March 17, 2022, in order to prevent the re-spread of the infection and to balance infection prevention measures with socioeconomic activities. (The period of the request is for the time being.) Among them, the requests to prefectural residents are as follows.

[In case you are concerned about infectionIf you are concerned that you may be infected]
  Asymptomatic people who are concerned about infection and meet the following three(3) conditions should be tested, including those who have already been vaccinated.
　1. those who have no symptoms such as fever (if you have symptoms, please visit a medical institution)
　2. Regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated, those who are concerned about infection for reasons such as being in an environment with a high risk of infection.
　3. who live in Saitama Prefecture

[Going out or traveling]  
・ In addition to basic infection prevention measures (such as keeping a safe distance between people, wearing masks, and hand washing), Avoid the three Cs and do not stop at places other than your destination.  
・ If you are not feeling well, please refrain from going out, using restaurants, attending events, etc.

[Use of restaurant]  
  It is recommended to use restaurants  that comply with industry-specific guidelines, etc.、specially, certified as “Sainokuni ‘New Lifestyle’ Safe and Secure Restaurants + (Plus)” that participate in efforts to protect the lives of customers.  

[Infection prevention measures based on the characteristics of the the Omicron variant]  
・ Eating and drinking should be done in small groups.
・ Wear a mask when talking with others.
・ Avoid going out to situations and places with high risk of infection.
・ Regularly ventilate the room and wash hands frequently at home.
・ Take thorough measures to prevent children from becoming infected.
・ The elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should meet with a small number of people they usually meet.