November 24, 2022

Dear YNU Students, Faculties and Administrative Staffs

Executive Director (General Affairs) and Vice President, TAKAGI Masaki
Executive Director (Education) and Vice President, YACHI Hiroyasu

Concerns are rising about a concurrent outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the seasonal influenza this winter. COVID-19 infections are said to be likely to exceed the levels of this past summer, and signs of spreading are already appearing nationwide. We at YNU have not seen a surge in new cases on campus, but infections have been increasing among students, faculty members, and administrative staff since November.

Many of you may be planning various gatherings involving eating and drinking, and homecoming and other events involving traveling during the year end and New Year holidays. Some of you may also have plans for various examinations, research presentations for graduation and degree completion, graduation and degree completion ceremonies, and events in celebration of the retirement of faculty members and administrative staff toward the end of the academic year.
* For information on graduation and degree completion ceremonies, see here .

When organizing on-campus events that do not involve eating and drinking, please take sufficient care to follow preventive measures in accordance with YNU guidance including the “Measures against the Infection Spread of the Novel Coronavirus (the Eighteenth Report ver.2)” and the “Yokohama National University Infection Prevention Guidelines for In-person Classes.” When organizing off-campus events, please follow the measures prescribed by national and local government policy as well as by the relevant facility.

Vaccines targeting the omicron variant of COVID-19 were rolled out in September. These are more effective than previous vaccines at preventing severe illness, and they are also expected to offer protection against future variants. The waiting time since the last vaccination has been reduced to three months. The Japanese government recommends that everyone who wants a vaccine shot should receive one by the end of the year. If you wish to receive a vaccine shot, please refer to the URLs below for information on vaccination sites and medical institutions.

Kanagawa Prefectural Government: COVID-19 Vaccines Portal Site
https://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/docs/ga4/covid19/vaccines/foreigner.html
Yokohama City: COVID-19 Information（新型冠状病毒感染症, ??????????-19）
https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/lang/covid-19-en/