Press Conference

March 17, 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation within and outside the country

As of 12:00, Mar. 19, 805 cases have been confirmed.

Hospitalization and discharge

The situation of occurrence of patients with COVID-19（map）

According to official government reports from other counties, as of 12:00, Mar. 19, 210,469 infectious cases and 8,873 deaths were confirmed.

Government measures

 

1．The Basic Policies

On February 25, “Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control” decided by the Headquarters for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control. This policy summarizes the measures that are currently being taken and the perspectives of possible future measures to be taken to respond to future development.
Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control[151KB]
(Summary Version) Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control[103KB]

【Press Conference】Basic Policies for Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus

On March 2, Government Officials and Experts held a press conference on the case of the coronavirus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Conducted by:
SAHARA Yasuyuki Senior Assistant Minister for Globel Health, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
SUZUKI Tadaki M.D., Ph.D. Director, Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
OSUMI Yo Deputy Director-General/ Deputy Assistant Minister, Consular Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
KAMOSHIDA Naoaki Assistant Press Secretary/ Director, International Press Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
INATSU Toshinobu Immigration Services Agency/ Deputy Director, Border Management Division
NODA Hiroyuki M.D., Ph.D. Councilor, Coordination Office of Measures on Emerging Infectious Diseases Office for Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response, Cabinet Secretariat
Please refer to the YouTube video as follows;
YouTube video:Basic Policies for Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus

2.Understanding the situation of infection

By notification by physicians under the Infections Diseases Control Law, grasp suspected disease carrier and conduct examination if it is deemed necessary by physicians.
If carrier is confirmed, conduct active epidemiological investigation based on the law and identify those who have been in close contact with the infected person.
For those who have been in close contact with infected person, the measures for preventing from spreading infection are being conducted by requesting to monitor own health condition and to refrain from leaving residence, etc..

We decided to apply medical insurance to the PCR test (on March 6). This makes it possible for medical institutions to request directory to private laboratories without going through public health centers, and further utilization of the examination capabilities of private laboratories will be achieved.

【Press Conference】The case of the coronavirus

 

March 17,2020

On March 17, Government Officials held a press conference on the case of the coronavirus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Please refer to the YouTube video as follows:
YouTube video:Part1,Part2,Part3

March 10,2020

YouTube video:Part1,Part2,Part3

On March 10, Government Officials held a press conference on the case of the coronavirus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Please refer to the YouTube video and figures used in their explanation as follows;
YouTube video:Part1,Part2,Part3
Figure 1:COVID-19 Clusters in Japan[463KB]
Figure 2:Overview of the Act on Special Measures[416KB]
Figure 3:PCR Testing system[431KB]
Figure 4:Screenshot_COVID19Map_MHLW[1,848KB]
Figure 5:Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act[120KB]

３．Measures for preventing outbreaks

In Japan, sporadic cases of small numbers of patients have been observed.
At this stage, the spread of infection can be prevented by tracing the route of transmission, especially for close contacts.
The important thing is to minimize the spread of infection in the country by preventing one cluster of patients from creating another cluster.
Please refer to the handout below;
Preventing Outbreaks of the Novel Coronavirus [148KB]

The Expert Meeting on the Novel Coronavirus Disease Control released "Views on the Novel Coronavirus Disease Control" summarizing the results of the study based on the analysis of the Cluster Response Team of MHLW.
In the Views, Japanese situation as of today (March 9) is not moving toward an explosive spread of infections, and appears to be somewhat holding steady. In addition, regarding measures in Hokkaido, it is difficult to estimate the effect about at least two weeks after the declaration of state of emergency in Hokkaido, and thereafter, the analysis of the effects of this measures is scheduled to be announced around March 19.

"Views on the Novel Coronavirus Disease Control" (As of March 9) [217KB]

４．Border Control Measures

In order to prevent 2019-nCoV from entering Japan via foreign aircraft and ships and take necessary measures related to aircraft, etc., inthe Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare classifies 2019-nCoV infection as “Type of infectious disease of Quarantine law article 34”.
This means that government is able to take measures such as inquiry and medical consultation for people entering Japan from abroad, isolation and detention of patients, disinfection for aircrafts, etc.
Based on the epidemic of this infection in other countries, as a border control measure in Japan, for arriving flights and ships from some countries , take measures to reduce the risk of domestic secondary infections by interviewing for all passengers using questionnaires, calling for self-reports by displaying posters, distributing health cards.
In the meantime, foreigners who have stayed in some areas of some countries within 14 days will be refused entering Japan under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, with or without symptoms, unless there are special circumstances.

Anyone who has boarded an airplane or ships arriving from China or republic of Korea and not be isolated or stopped is required to stay 14days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief and not to use public transportation in Japan. (from March 9)
To the people arriving in Japan from China and republic of Korea.
Notice by quarantine station to the persons entering Japan[440KB]
Q&A

５．The Cruise ship

The infection control measures taken at the Cruise ship “Diamond Princess”（provisional translation）

The infection control measures taken at the Cruise ship “Diamond Princess”（provisional translation）
PDF［29KB］

 

On February 24, Experts held a press conference on the case of the novel coronavirus at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Conducted by:
Members of Expert Meeting on the Novel Coronavirus Disease
- OMI Shigeru,M.D.,Ph.D., President, Japan Community Health care Organization
- OHMAGARI Norio,M.D.,Ph.D., Director, Disease Control & Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
- KITA Yosuke, Senior Coordinator for Global Health Cooperation, International Affairs Division, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Please refer to the YouTube video clips and figures used in their explanation as follows;
YouTube video clips:Part1,Part2,Part3,Part4,Part5,Part6,Part7
Figure:Number of new symptomatic coronavirus infektion cases and fever reports,by date of onset,Cruise Ship DP,as of February 23,2020［68KB］

Press Conference on the Situation of the novel Coronavirus Disease in the Cruise Ship off the coast of Yokohama was held in the MOFA Press Conference Room from 20:40 to 21:40 on Friday 21 February 2020.
Professor, SUZUKI Motoi, M.D., MSc., PHDC, Ph.D., of Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, National Institute of Infectious Disease and Professor, NISHIURA Hiroshi, M.D., Ph.D., DTM&H, of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University explained the situation based on their analysis using the data obtained on the cruise ship.
Please refer to the YouTube video clips and figures used in their explanation as follows;
YouTube video clips:Part1,Part2,Part3,Part4
Figure 1: Changes in the number of new coronavirus infection cases and fever reports on the cruise ship (as of February 19) [374KB]
Figure 2: Number of COVID-19 cases with symptoms among the passengers on the Cruise ship (by close contact status, as of 02/19/2020) [412KB]
Figure 3: Number of predicted infections from one patient, by generation (Reproduction rate)[182KB]

Message to the people in Japan

 

1.Characteristics of new coronavirus infections ascertained at present (As of February 25)

<The routes of transmission>
The routes of transmission are generally through droplets and contacts. It is not thought to be caused by airborne infections.
In addition, under certain circumstances, such as when talking to many people at a short distance in confined spaces, there is the risk of spreading the infection even without coughing or sneezing.

<About infectivity>
Infectivity varies from case to case. There have been suspected cases which spread the infection to many people. Meanwhile, there are many cases where the virus did not transmit to those surrounding the infected person.

< Common symptoms and risk of developing severe>
Often, fevers or respiratory symptoms may persist for around one week, and many patients complain of strong fatigue. It has been reported that the period of hospitalization tends to be longer than that of seasonal influenza.
Those infected often present only mild symptoms, which will heal in many cases. The severity of the novel coronavirus disease is not as great as infectious diseases with extremely high mortality rates, but it does have the higher risk than seasonal influenza. The risks of developing severe symptoms are particularly high among the elderly and patients with underlying diseases.

The CNN published at 11:00 (Japan time) on March 6

Call centers for foreign tourists

Medical institutions offering assistance in foreign languages

WHO

National Institute of Infectious Diseases

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