March 5, 2020
Summary of changes announced on February 17:
1. Staff as well as students are also required to stay at home for 14 days after returning from affected areas/countries.
2. Travel to China (including Hong Kong and Macau) is prohibited for all staff as well as students, in accordance with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ announcement on February 12.
2/17/2020
To all students and staff of Kobe University,
Novel Coronavirus has been listed as a “designated infectious disease”. We request that all staff and students follow the measures below to prevent the spread of the virus.
There have been reports of many infected people in Japan as well as in other countries. It is important to respect the privacy of these individuals and not to discriminate against infected people and returnees from the affected areas. Please monitor your condition and compile useful information, both for your own sake and that of those around you.
The following points apply as of February 17, 2020. Please note that they are likely to be revised in accordance with changes in the situation.
1. Regarding the monitoring of your own health and taking precautions, please comply with the measures outlined in ‘Kobe University’s measures to prevent the spread of Novel Coronavirus’ .
2. Students returning from affected areas must do as described in Point 1 and stay at home for 14 days after returning to Japan. Refrain from going outside unless absolutely necessary. Also, please be sure to inform the Student Affairs Section or your supervisor that you need to stay at home after returning to Japan.
3. Staff returning from affected areas must also do the same: follow the measures in point 1 and isolate yourself home for 14 days after returning to Japan. Please make sure that you contact the applicable General Affairs Division to inform them that you need to stay at home for 14 days after returning to Japan.
4. Students and staff diagnosed with novel coronavirus are prohibited from coming to the university. Make sure that you contact the Student Affairs Section (students) or the General Affairs Section (staff). When you recover from the virus, obtain a medical certificate from your doctor stating that you have recovered and cannot pass on the infection to others. Please hand this in at the Medical Center for Student Health. Once they have confirmed your status, you may be allowed to attend school/work.
5. Travel to China (including Hong Kong and Macau)
Students: Travel to China is prohibited/not allowed.
Based on the chart on page 2 of the Kobe University International Crisis Management Manual, all travel to China including private trips, is generally prohibited. However, as it is not possible to ensure safety due the infectious nature of the virus, travel to China is completely prohibited for students.
Staff: Travel to China is prohibited/not allowed
Based on the chart on page 2 of the Kobe University International Crisis Management Manual, all travel to Hubei and Zhejiang provinces including private trips, is generally prohibited. Regarding trips to other areas of China, the decision has been made to completely prohibit travel for staff in line with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel postponement request of February 12.
*All staff planning to travel outside Japan must submit a notification of their intent to travel overseas to their department, even for travel to countries other than China. All students planning to go abroad must submit their travel plans through the Kobe University Global Education Management System (GEMs), including trips to their home country.
TAKEDA Hiroshi (Kobe University President)
SUGIMURA Kazuro (Executive Vice President in Charge of Risk Management)