What You Should Do When You Might Have Been Infected with 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”), When You Go in for PCR Testing, and Reporting to Tokyo Tech

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Published: April 24, 2020

Update: October 2, 2020

To:　All Students
From:
　　Tetsuya Mizumoto,　Executive Vice President for Education, Tokyo Institute of Technology
　　Mitsuji Sanpei,　Director, Health Support Center
　　Toshihiko Fukuoka,　Industrial Physician and School Doctor, Health Support Center


If you develop cold-like symptoms including fever, cough, and sore throat and suspect that you might have been infected with the virus, or when you are not sure if your conditions could possibly apply to the symptoms explained in the website of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare
( https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/dengue_fever_qa_00014.html ), please follow the instructions below:
  • ●　Do not come to the Institute. Following the government’s April 7 declaration of a state of emergency, Tokyo Tech is requesting that all students avoid coming to the Institute’s campuses at least until end of May.
  • ●　Stay at home and do not go out.
  • Summary of COVID-19 Guidance for Students

  • (1) Consultation
    • -　Promptly consult a “Consultation Center for People with Potential Exposure to COVID-19,” set up at your nearest public health center.
    • -　If you have a family doctor, consider seeking advice from him/her.
  • (2) If you go in for PCR testing
    If you are instructed to proceed to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing as the result of the above consultation:
    • a)　Please follow their instructions.
    • b)　Promptly report it to the Institute’s designated contact at: pcrteststudent@jim.titech.ac.jp
    • c)　If you are affiliated with a laboratory, report the info to your academic supervisor as well.
  • (3) Notification of test results
    Report your results (simply whether positive or negative will suffice) to your academic supervisor and the designated contact at the Institute at: 　pcrteststudent@jim.titech.ac.jp
  • (4) If you have been diagnosed as COVID-19 (i.e. you test positive),
    • -　Please visit the link below, download the report form, fill it out, and send it via email to the designated contact at pcrteststudent@jim.titech.ac.jp when possible. You do not have to send it to your academic supervisor.
    • -　This form is not required if you are in a difficult situation, such as being too sick or hospitalized.
    • -　Please kindly understand that the content of the report will be shared within Tokyo Tech in accordance with the School Health and Safety Act, but will not be used outside the scope of necessary measures to prevent infection at the Institute.
    COVID-19 Infection Report
    (Excel) /english/enrolled/health/file/covid19_eng.xlsx
    (txt) /english/enrolled/health/file/covid19_eng.txt
  • (5) If the consultation center does not ask you to proceed to the testing, please consider seeing a doctor. Please make sure to inform the clinic/medical institution before physically visiting the location that you have consulted the consultation center. If you visit a doctor, please follow the doctor’s instructions.

＜Useful links provided in English＞
For related information in English provided by responsible authorities, etc., please visit the links listed below:

Q & A on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare:
Q8: If it is suspected that I might have been infected with the virus, which medical institution should I consult with to receive testing and treatment?
　 https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/dengue_fever_qa_00014.html

Multilingual coronavirus hotlines in Japan, by NHK WORLD-JAPAN:
　 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1019/

Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Government
　 https://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/index.html
　You can find general information, FAQs, and updates from the Tokyo government about COVID-19.

A list of medical clinics located near Tokyo Tech campuses is available from the Tokyo Tech website:
For the Ookayama area, please visit:
　 /english/enrolled/health/pdf/clinic_Ookayama_english.pdf
For the Suzukakedai area, please visit:
　 /english/enrolled/pdf/clinic_suzukakedai_english.pdf

＜Everyday preventive action＞
  • ●　Wash your hands (the most important step)*
  • ●　Wear a facemask (coughing etiquette)**
  • ●　Avoid crowded places, especially the following “Three C” situations:
    • 1.　Confined spaces with poor ventilation
    • 2.　Crowded places (with many people)
    • 3.　Close-contact settings and interactions
      　　E.g., parties, large gatherings, karaoke
  • ●　Eat healthily, get plenty of rest, and avoid becoming overworked

  • 　* For more information on handwashing and the use of masks, please refer to the links listed below.
  • 　** Facemasks are effective in protecting people from droplets or splashes of infected fluids from coughs and sneezes, and in preventing the spread of infection by wearers.

＜Precautions＞
Those with underlying diseases and smokers may need to take extra precautions as many of the severe or fatal cases caused by the coronavirus have involved such individuals according to recent reports. Additionally, people with underlying diseases may be recommended to seek medical advice from their family doctor in advance. Smokers are also encouraged to stop smoking.

Underlying diseases are health problems that require treatment or regular follow-up visits.
Conditions include diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, brain disease, kidney disease, malignant diseases such as cancer, immune disorders such as connective tissue disease, etc. People taking immunosuppressive medications are also included.

＜Tips for proper handwashing - refer to the following video links＞
USCDC: Clean Hands Help Prevent the Flu
　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHISh559oho
USCDC: What You Need to Know about Handwashing
　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d914EnpU4Fo&feature=youtu.be

＜What you can do to prevent infection＞
(Information provided by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare)
Prevention Measures against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (in English)
　https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000597148.pdf

“Avoid the ‘Three Cs’!” leaflet (in English):
　https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000619576.pdf

Coronavirus social distancing advice: What two metres looks like, by BBC News
　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPM58DQH0gQ

Update : October 7, 2020

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