March 23, 2020
3/19/2020
To all staff and students of Kobe University,
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 13. Each country has issued emergency measures and various restrictions or bans on entering and leaving countries have been imposed. On the 18th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that the whole world is currently at Infectious Disease Level 1.
In order to prioritize the safety of all staff and students, the following travel restrictions have been decided upon by Kobe University:
Regarding overseas travel:
1. For the time being, overseas travel is prohibited for students regardless of the destination’s Infectious Disease Level. Students who are currently abroad are asked to return to Japan. However, please note that it may not be possible for foreign students of Kobe University to enter Japan due to the Japanese government’s border measures. Before returning to Japan, please check the latest information on the Ministry of Justice website and make sure that these restrictions do not apply to you.
March 19 notice from the Ministry of Justice on landing refusal.
More information in English about Government measures and multilingual coronavirus support can be found on the Japan National Tourism Organization site: https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/
2. For the time being, travel abroad is generally prohibited for university staff regardless of the destination’s Infectious Disease Level. Staff members who are currently abroad are asked to return to Japan. If, after considering these circumstances, it is absolutely necessary for you to travel abroad, please submit a request form stating your reason for travel.
3. After returning to Japan, staff and students must self-isolate at home for 14 days commencing from the day after arrival in Japan.
TAKEDA Hiroshi (Kobe University President)
SUGIMURA Kazuro (Executive Vice President in Charge of Risk Management)