July 15, 2021

To all Keio students,

Student Affairs Center

[Important notice] Thorough prevention of infections and limiting the spread of the disease following the "declaration of a state of emergency"

The government has decided to issue a "declaration of a state of emergency" for Tokyo. While workplace vaccinations have been underway at the university in recent weeks and Keio students, faculty, and staff members are being vaccinated, with cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) spreading again and mutated strains of the virus rapidly becoming widespread, the situation still remains unpredictable. Furthermore, getting inoculated does not mean that there is no risk of infection. Please strictly refrain from high-risk activities such as eating out in groups and drinking in public places. In addition to this, please do not let your guard down and continue to implement basic infection prevention measures.

■Thorough prevention of COVID-19 infections and limiting the spread of the disease

1. Basic measures to prevent infections
　(1) Keep a physical distance from others (social distancing)
　(2) Wear a mask and observe cough etiquette
　(3) Wash your hands frequently and gargle thoroughly
2. Avoid the "3Cs"
　(1) Avoid poorly ventilated "closed spaces" by ensuring the air is circulating in rooms
　(2) Avoid "crowded places" where many people gather
　(3) Avoid "close-contact settings" in which conversations take place in close proximity
3．Refrain from eating out in groups (eating and drinking with multiple people while conversing)
4. Do not eat or drink in public places, including inside train stations, on the streets, and at parks
5. Monitor your health on a daily basis and refrain from activities when feeling unwell

In particular, we strongly urge you to refrain from eating out in groups as this involves multiple people taking off their masks and having conversations in close proximity, thereby greatly increasing the risk of infections through droplets.

・Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
・Keio University Health Center: About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

■COVID-19 vaccinations

・Keio University COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Information Portal
・Workplace Vaccination for COVID-19 at Keio University (President's Message)

The vaccines are invaluable. To avoid wasting vaccines, please be sure to complete the cancellation procedures if you are no longer able to keep your appointment. Since the vaccines are prepared from early in the morning in accordance with the number of people who have made an appointment on the day, if you fail to show up, the vaccine may, in a worst-case scenario, have to be thrown away, leading to a great waste. We ask for the cooperation of all Keio students to ensure that this situation does not occur.

・Keio University COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Information Portal FAQ

While we encourage all Keio students to take this opportunity to get vaccinated, vaccination is not compulsory, but voluntary and at the discretion of the individual. Please respect the wishes and decisions of others and be sure never to discriminate or restrict activities based on whether or not a person has been vaccinated.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a safe campus cannot be realized through vaccinations alone. As it has been the case until now, it is important that no one neglects infection prevention measures and for each of us to act in a disciplined manner, such as not eating out in groups.

■What to do if you suspect that you are infect or have become infected

People in relatively young age groups, including many university students, often only show mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, even if they are infected. This leads them to spreading infections to family members and friends without realizing it, which is one of the main reasons why there is currently an increase in the number of serious illnesses and deaths. In addition, young people also can and do become severely ill, and even in mild cases, people have suffered serious aftereffects. Please remember that your careless actions can threaten not only your own health and life but also those of your loved one