Apr 14 2020
Congratulations and welcome to Niigata University. We are all very happy to have you and I believe our current students must also be starting the new semester on a new note. April is such season, when our hearts are filled with excitement and hope, but I have an important notice to you all.
This year at Niigata University, we have decided to postpone the start of classes for two weeks until April 20 and, in principle, to provide all classes in a non-in-person manner throughout the 2020 first semester (first and second terms), as a means to minimize your risk of the novel coronavirus infection. "Non-in-person manner" means that conventional classes given as a classroom lecture will not be held, but instead, learning will be pursued through online/remote lectures and by working on research assignments.
I suppose all of you are feeling anxiety and strain about this new method of learning that does not involve in-person communication. In the current phase, however, when there is so much uncertainty about how the current situation will play out, "minimizing contact with others" is the most effective way to prevent spread of infection within the campus and secure the safety of the approximately 13,000 students of Niigata University. To ensure your learning opportunities under these circumstances, we have no choice but to introduce non-in-person classes including online. I would like you to understand the situation we are in and cooperate with us.
As you are all well aware, the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), which was first recognized in China at the end of last year, is now spreading fiercely across the world. In response, Niigata University launched a COVID-19 Task Force involving infectious disease specialists at the end of February. Under my leadership, we have promptly set out various infection control measures prioritizing your safety first, such as cancellation of ceremonies and meetings with high risk of spreading the virus, including the graduation and entrance ceremony.
Despite our efforts, however, the spread of COVID-19 infection in Japan has reached a serious stage*. The spread of COVID-19 has developed into a global crisis and it will require firm determination to overcome. Many of you must already know through news reports that many cities in Europe and the United States have been put under lockdown or are imposing restrictions on people's movement.
*Note that the government declared state of emergency for Tokyo and six prefectures on April 7.
Due to the emergency circumstances of the spread of COVID-19 infection, there may be some shortcomings in our preparations, but we are committed to ensure that your learning opportunities are maintained as useful and accessible as possible. We would love you to feel free to make suggestions and let us know about your new ideas. Let's work together to overcome this difficult time.
The most important thing to prevent further spread of COVID-19 infection is that each one of us remains alert and protect ourselves and others from infection. Please keep in mind the items below; some basic knowledge and tips for protecting yourselves and others from infection. In the end, I will also touch on mental care during this period.
As COVID-19 infection spreads by the virus being carried from one person to another, the key is to eliminate the risks of infection. This disease is known to develop symptoms around 3 to 14 days after contact with infected people. It is also becoming known that COVID-19 carriers can pass on the virus to others even at the early stage of infection when distinct symptoms are absent. It is therefore assumed that in many cases, persons infect others without even knowing that they are infected themselves. This is one of the main causes of the rapid spread of this disease. It is essential that you all take it seriously and bear in mind the following points:
(i) Take care not to get infected yourself;
(ii) Always keep in mind that you might be infected yourself, and thus be careful not to infect others.
The following are tips to implement in daily life.
While you may have already been informed via the university website or other channels, please make sure you strictly observe the following rules:
(i) Starting from Monday, April 6 (two weeks before the start of classes), please refrain from traveling to the following areas which have the rapidly increasing number of infected people: Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa, Osaka, Wakayama, Chiba, Hyogo, Kyoto, Saitama, and Fukuoka;
(ii) Those students who currently reside or are staying in any of the above-mentioned areas, please move to Niigata by April 6 and after that, avoid going out unless absolutely necessary or urgent.
This is a request to prevent you from bringing in and spreading the virus, in other words, from harming other people. In addition, please monitor your health over the two weeks prior to the start of classes (Health check lists are available HERE). If you experience symptoms such as fever (37.5 °C or above) or other common symptoms of a cold (coughing, breathlessness, dullness, etc.) during the period, please call the Niigata University Health Administration Center (Ikarashi campus: 025-262-6244; Asahimachi campus: 025-227-2040) on the phone for consultation.
In order to minimize the chances of droplet transmission and contact transmission, you are strongly recommended that you wear a face mask and wash your hands. While there are controversies about the effects of wearing a mask, it is believed that wearing a mask is important for the following purposes:
(i) Avoid droplets of your saliva from spreading thinking that you might be infected;
(ii) Avoid direct contact with droplets of other people's saliva.
Therefore, if you take your mask off while having a conversation with others, it makes the whole thing about wearing a mask meaningless. Wearing a mask on your chin without covering your mouth and nose is also meaningless, and moreover unhygienic. Please make sure you wear your mask properly. A mask can be heavily contaminated if you or others surrounding you are infected. Once you wear a mask, never use it on the reverse side; be careful not to touch the mask's surface as the virus can attach to your hands and become a cause of contact transmission. It is ideal to replace your paper mask with a new one every day or use cloth masks with washing them every day.
Please note the following as well:
(i) Do not come in direct contact with other people. Avoid shaking hands or high fives;
(ii) Maintain a safe distance (1-2 meters) from other people. Keep some distance when you stand in a line, too;
(iii) Be sure to wash your hands after you touch something, such as doorknobs, table, desk, etc., in a public space as well as go to restrooms. Do not touch your face before you wash your hands.
If your hands are contaminated, you may become infected by touching your eyes or nose. Eating food with contaminated hands also has the same outcome. To wash your hands frequently and to avoid touching your face are keys to preventing infection; wearing a mask also has the effect of keeping your hands from touching your face.
According to the Expert Meeting on the Novel Coronavirus Disease Control, we are advised to avoid Three Cs: Closed spaces with poor ventilation, Crowded places with many people nearby, and Close–contact settings such as close-range conversations. It is because these are the conditions that significantly raise the risk of infection, which may cause cluster infections. Closed and crowded spaces where people intimately interact with each other create a hotbed for both contact and droplet transmission. In consideration of this fact and actual cases of cluster infection that occurred in indoor sports facilities, student club activities and other extracurricular activities are suspended at the moment. More obviously, you are also advised not to go to drinking parties, karaoke rooms, live music clubs or concerts.
Non-in-person classes deprive students of opportunities to have direct conversation with classmates and teachers. Those new students who have started living away from their family for the first time in life must be feeling lonely and uneasy. Faculty members are seeking ways to connect with students through e-mail and other online channels. Never think that you are alone. We are always here to support you. Feel free to contact us whenever you have concerns of any kind. (The contact details will be informed by respective Faculty.)
It is important to lead an ordered life by maintaining a well-balanced diet, getting moderate exercise and adequate sleep. We do advise that you avoid going out for unnecessary and non-urgent purposes, but needless to say, you can go out to get your groceries and basic necessities as long as you observe the preventive measures outlined above. It is fine if you want to take a walk in a sparse and quiet park or in the neighborhood on a sunny day. Just be sure not to touch your face if you have touched something in a public space and wash your hands immediately when you return home. Those simple habits will protect yourself and lead you to enjoy life with peace of mind.
Before I conclude my message, I would like to share with you part of an e-mail I received from my friend's nephew who lives in Hawaii now.
… Classes have gone online and all sports events have been cancelled. We all wear masks when going out; people who are entering Hawaii are ordered to stay at home for two weeks. Even those who live in Hawaii are restricted from playing outside or hanging out. We can't even visit our friend's house and if you do, you may be fined 5,000 dollars. But it seems that we're allowed to workout outside as long as we stay away from other people. We can also go shopping to buy our necessities, but we are asked to maintain a distance of 6 feet (approx. 1.8 m) apart from other people, which is called "social distancing" …
I guess the situation is mostly the same everywhere around the world. Everyone in the world is taking their share of responsibility to get over this crisis.
USHIKI Tatsuo, MD, PhD
President
