Covid-19 spreads in Japan. Tips for Foreigners

Maybe it is from a bat soup. Maybe it is a biological weapon. Whether or not it’s a conspiracy, the noble Coronavirus has brought a real change in our social and financial lives. Since the death of a famous TV personnel, Ken Shimura, Japanese people are starting to take notice of how serious this pandemic really is. Here is Japan, things could get confusing for those of us who are living as foreigners, but there are things that you can start today to protect yourself from this upcoming apocalypse.

When you go out, wear a mask

Many people argue that it is ineffective to wear masks to protect you against a viral infection. This may be true, but what your mask CAN do is to prevent your infection from spreading to others by catching small saliva droplets from cough or speaking. The logic is that if everyone wears a mask, then everyone will be protected from each other.

Whether or not the above statement is true, Japanese people have a custom of wearing masks every flu season, so if you are a foreigner, it is better to get used to wearing a mask, so that people around you will treat you nicely. I’m sure you don’t want your business client or supermarket employees from declining your offer, or ought right refuse you from entering the building, just because you don’t wear a mask. If you look like you are a foreigner or you are from China, many Japanese people would think that you have a higher chance of carrying a virus. This might sound unfair, but it is worth buying a mask to avoid those troubles, especially if you are a foreigner.

If you are sick, contact the local Coronavirus Consultation Center

The Ministry of Health advises you to call the local Coronavirus Consultation Centers if you are both of the following

・Have a sustained cold symptom and fever above 37.5°C (99.5°F) for over four days
・Have a strong sense of fatigue and breathing difficulty

list of Consultation Centers (Japanese)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/covid19-kikokusyasessyokusya.html

The Consultation center site is in Japanese, with a list of prefectures, but many center also supports English speaking patients within the same number, so please don’t be afraid to call them.

If you don’t want to go through the hastle of google-translating the website, here’s the number for the Tokyo Consultation Center.

Tokyo Coronavirus Consultation Center: 0570-550571