To all academic and administrative staff at the University of Tokyo:
The third state of emergency declaration was issued on April 25 to four prefectures, including Tokyo. The beginning of the new academic year is an extremely important time for all areas of the university’s activities. With the increasing spread of infections through highly contagious strains of the virus, it has become necessary for each student and faculty member to act with the awareness of “not infecting” and “not spreading infections” to create a safe and secure campus so that we can carry on with the university’s activities.
In order to take the best possible measures to prevent infection, we have added a new level, Level Pre-1 to The University of Tokyo Activity Restrictions Index for Preventing the Spread of Novel Coronavirus* (first announced on April 3, 2020) and are raising the Activity Restrictions Index level to Level Pre-1 from April 27. Taking into account the infection situation with regard to the University, along with the fact that the government extended the state of emergency period for Tokyo and three other prefectures on May 7, we have decided to maintain Level Pre-1 restrictions for the time being.
The current activity restrictions index was prepared a year ago and through a variety of activities over the course of the past year, our understanding of the novel coronavirus has deepened and we have accumulated knowledge about what measures we should focus on. Based on the content of the current state of emergency and our accumulated knowledge, we have added Level Pre-1 between the Level 0.5 and Level 1, as well as revised the description on classes under Level 0.5, in line with the current situation. For now, we will maintain Level Pre-1 until May 11 in line with the government’s state of emergency, and make further decisions based on the situation at that time. We will continue to revise the entire activity restrictions index and set the university’s activities based on the “Activity Restrictions Index 2021 (tentative name)” in the future.
Under Level Pre-1, we ask that you cooperate with the following restrictions:
- Research activities can continue; however, while taking the utmost consideration to prevent the spread of infection, students, researchers and research staff (laboratory staff) must consider minimizing the chance of contacting other people, such as by reducing the amount of time they stay on-site and working from home.
- Meetings that can be done online should be held virtually. Please keep in-person meetings on campus to the minimum.
- Classes will be held mainly online. However, classes that are more effective when held in-person, will be held face-to-face with maximum measures to prevent infection in place.
- Some students’ extracurricular activities are allowed with maximum consideration to the spread of infection. The department in charge should proceed with measures by keeping close communication with the students.
- For those in administration, working from home and staggered commuting are strongly encouraged (under 60% working at the office). However, if one has important work that must be done at the office during the restriction period, coming to work is permitted as an exception, provided that sufficient measures to prevent infection are taken.
- If you feel unwell, even if the symptoms are not consistent with typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus, please act quickly and take measures, such as staying home. The administrator is requested to take care so that those who are feeling ill can take a rest without difficulty.
As mentioned above, changes to your behavior are extremely important. The main means of infection transmission is through respiratory droplets. Please refrain from eating, drinking or doing other similar activities together with people who are not members of your household. Infections also are occurring by taking off a mask and speaking during lunch or break. Please make sure to “speak after eating silently or alone, avoid the 'three Cs' (closed spaces, crowded and close-contact settings), and wear a mask.”
The UTokyo campuses are considered to be relatively safe compared to metropolitan areas. In order to further enhance safety and steadily promote activities that should be promoted as a university, it is extremely important to prevent infections from asymptomatic or mild cases of the novel coronavirus. To date, we have implemented measures such as the introduction of an antigen quantitative testing system at the Health Service Center and the establishment of a PCR Center in Kashiwa. We are currently preparing to further bolster our testing system. We will let you know the details as soon as it is ready.
At Level Pre-1, the Health Service Centers on Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa Campuses are all still continuing to provide medical treatment. They also welcome consultations by phone, so if you have any concerns, please contact them.
April 27, 2021
Updated May 7, 2021
OKUBO Tatsuya,
Executive Vice President
Head, UTokyo Coronavirus Task Force
