Towards University Life with Corona in the 5th Wave

August 30, 2021

Hokesen Letter, No 220 (English ver.)
Health Care Center, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Yasuhiro Yamauchi, MD, PhD

The main transmission routes of COVID-19 infections are said to be droplet infection and contact infection. In order to prevent COVID-19 infection, it is important for each of us to keep social distance, wear masks as much as possible in our daily lives, practice cough etiquette, and ventilate the rooms sufficiently to prevent ourselves from becoming infected and to avoid infecting others. There is also the possibility of infecting others from the asymptomatic stage. Under certain circumstances, such as conversations during meals or talking at close range in an enclosed space, there is a risk of spreading the infection even if there are no symptoms such as coughing or sneezing. In light of these circumstances, it is important that we continue to practice the "new lifestyle", avoid the "three C’s", wear masks, wash hands with soap and disinfect with hand rubbing alcohol, and practice cough etiquette. It is important to continue with the "10 points to reduce social contact by 80%".
　In the current fifth wave, the number of infected people far exceeds the number of those infected by the corona disaster so far, and it is said that a medical collapse is imminent, and a crisis situation similar to that of a disaster is continuing, and some reports are already indicating the arrival of the medical system breakdown. In addition to the inability to receive necessary medical care for patients with new corona infection who become seriously ill, there is also the possibility that in the future, patients will not be able to receive appropriate and necessary medical care even if they develop some disease unrelated to COVID-19, or if their chronic illness worsens, or if they become seriously ill requiring emergency medical care. Apparently, the situation is becoming worse. As a factor in the spread of the infection, it has been pointed out that the current increase in the number of infected people is mainly due to the increased infectivity of the mutant virus. In addition to this, there are some behaviors that seem to be influenced by the exhaustion caused by prolonged infection control measures and the inadequacy of those infection control measures, etc., and we are concerned about the prolonged spread of the new corona infection in society.
　Vaccination against COVID-19 infections has been progressing, but the supply of vaccines is still insufficient, and it cannot be said that vaccination is progressing sufficiently in society. Vaccination is expected to prevent the onset of new coronavirus infections and prevent serious illness, however, it might be difficult to prevent the infection of COVID-19 completely, and vaccination is not the answer to everything. Toward the end of VOVID-19 infection, it is important to continue to take measures to prevent infection even after vaccination.
　In such a society where COVID-19 infection is widespread, it is important to continuously and thoroughly implement infection control on campus together with students, faculty members, and university staffs, in order to maintain and develop the function as a university and continue learning opportunities for students.

The "Response to Coronavirus" has already been described in the {Summary} Prevention and Response to COVID-19" on our website, but once again, please check the following points in particular.
　First, if you have any symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, general malaise/fatigue, or a body temperature of over 37.5 °C (even without other symptoms), please call your family doctor, and consult how to see a doctor and how to get PCR test. If you have trouble consulting your family doctor, please contact a local call center*, such as Tokyo Coronavirus Support Center (TOCOS) **. Also, if you experience this cold-like symptoms, please do not come to the university and do no attend classes.
　In addition, if you have any cold-like symptoms, please go to a medical institution and have a diagnosis at the doctor's discretion instead of taking a private PCR test yourself.
　Next, measures to be taken when the cold-like symptoms improve are also mentioned on the website. Please be aware that even if your physical condition, including symptoms such as fever, cough, and general malaise, has completely recovered without taking any medication, please keep staying at home until at least 2 days. After 2 days and your condition has been stable without taking any medicine, you can come to school and attend classes.

As there are much information about how to response to COVID-19, including if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, if you are identified as a closed contact, or if you have some symptoms after vaccination, please check again the TUFS website and take measures according to your situation.

＊: “local call center” about COVID-19 in each region in Japan
https://www.c19.mhlw.go.jp/area-en.html

＊＊: TOCOS
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/topics/2020/0430.html

If you have any questions, please consult the Health Care Center, TUFS.