In Iwate, free (subsidized) Pcr tests are available for use in the vaccine-and-test package program for dining, events, travel, etc. and for those who are worried about being infected when cases are high. This is in order to balance both Covid-19 countermeasures with the restoration of normal life.

For details about eligibility, testing locations, etc. please see the prefectural website.

Free Pcr and Rapid Antigen Testing＜外部リンク＞

About Covid-19 Vaccines

Latest Information

Updated January 23rd.

Updates to Vaccine Venues (for 3rd doses/more boosters for those age 12+ and pediatric vaccines for age 5-11)

Important Announcements

★ The national timeframe to receive a Covid-19 vaccine has been extended to March 31st, 2023. If you would like to be vaccinated, please make an appointment as soon as possible.

※ The initial course of vaccines (doses 1 and 2) will also be available during this time, but if you wish to have your 3rd booster dose be the Omicron-specific vaccine, you will have to finish your 1st/2nd doses by the end of December 2022 at the latest.

★ For those age 60 and up, vaccination dates are assigned, so please be sure to check the information on the ticket.

Covid-19 Is Spreading Among Young People: Please Get Vaccinated If You Can

Currently, older adults and others are eligible for 4th dose boosters of the Covid-19 vaccine, and as of October, it's been announced that a vaccine targeting the highly infectious Omicron variant will be rolled out as well.

It's possible for younger people to develop a serious case of Covid-19, or to experience lasting symptoms afterwards, known as "long covid." While various kinds of information are coming from the media, please use proper judgement when making decisions about getting vaccinated. Please see this page for data about infections: https://covid19.mhlw.go.jp/en/＜外部リンク＞. You can also see data for Iwate here: https://www.pref.iwate.jp/kyouikubunka/kokusai/1006971/1027622/1027623.html＜外部リンク＞.

Venue Information for November Onwards

● Initial doses for age 12+ (Pfizer)

Magokoro Hospital
Nagano Internal Medicine Clinic
Honda Gastroenterology Internal & Surgery
Maesawa Clinic (age 16+ only)
Esashi Hospital (age 18+ only)

● Boosters (3rd dose and beyond) for age 12+ (Pfizer's bivalent Omicron-specific vaccine)

Vaccination Venues (for 3rd+ Doses for Age 12+) [PDFファイル／575KB]

● For children age 5-11 (1st-3rd doses, with Pfizer's pediatric vaccine)

Mizusawa Gen. Hospital, Pediatric Section (weekdays only)
Miki Hospital (weekdays & Saturdays)
Idzutsu Clinic (Saturdays only)
Ito Family Clinic (regular patients only)

※ Other healthcare centers may offer vaccines as well, depending on the status of the rollout.

● For babies and preschoolers age 6 months to 4 years (1st-3rd doses, with Pfizer's infant vaccine)

Mizusawa Gen. Hospital, Pediatric Section

★Use the Call Center or the website to make an appointment★

Call center: Oshu City Covid-19 Vaccine Call Center (Tel: 0120-40-10-63)

※ Please make sure to dial this number correctly! There have been many instances of wrong numbers connecting to places of business instead.

As of October, the Omicron-specific vaccine is being administered, and as of November 2nd, Pfizer's BA.4-5 vaccine is in use.

【Important Notes】

For appointments made through December, the vaccine type listed on the appointment website will be "Pfizer's Omicron-specific BA.1," but starting on November 2nd, the vaccine in use for all 3rd dose boosters and beyond will be BA.4-5. (Please select "Pfizer's Omicron-specific BA.1" when you make an appointment via the website.)

Website: https://vaccines.sciseed.jp/oshu/login＜外部リンク＞

Current Vaccination Status (January 11th)

Vaccination Status [PDFファイル／343KB]

* For applications via Oshu City Hall: Application Form for Vaccination Certificate of COVID-19 and Explanation [PDFファイル／102KB]

Proxy form [PDFファイル／56KB]

For additional/general information, please see the Mhlw page.＜外部リンク＞

Guide for Consultations/Treatment of Covid-19

If You Have Symptoms

Please see the file below for guidance if you have symptoms like a fever, etc.

Flow of Consultations and Diagnosis for Symptoms (Nov. 2021) [PDFファイル／414KB]

Oshu Testing/Treatment Centers

These healthcare centers may offer diagnostics and testing for Covid-19. If you would like to be seen for symptoms you're concerned about, please call the healthcare center first.

List of Testing and Treatment Centers in Oshu (as of December 15th) [PDFファイル／447KB]

For a complete list of similar healthcare centers in Iwate, please see the file under 診療・検査医療機関 on the prefectural webpage (Japanese-language only.)＜外部リンク＞

From the Ministry of Health

If You Have Symptoms of Covid-19 [PDFファイル／83KB]

The Diagnosis and Consultation Center phone line has been set up so suspected Covid patients can be examined at diagnostic/test centers.
For deaf or hard of hearing people who have difficulties using the phone, a fax line is also available. Please feel free to use it.

Hours: 24 hours a day (including weekends and holidays)
Phone: 019-651-3175
Fax: 019-626-0837

If you have the following symptoms, contact the Diagnosis and Consultation Center:

Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath), extreme tiredness (fatigue), high fever, or any other severe symptoms
At-risk groups (see below ※ ) with relatively light cold-like symptoms such as fever or cough
Anyone other than the above with relatively light cold-like symptoms such as fever or cough that continue for four days or more: contact the center right away. Symptoms vary between people, so if you think the symptoms are severe, contact the center right away. This applies even if anti-fever medication has been used.

※ Older adults, people with diabetes, heart failure, Copd and similar, people with other chronic conditions, those on dialysis, those on immunosuppressant medications or cancer medication

Covid-19 Call Centers

Covid-19 General Consultation Hotlines

These are general hotlines for Covid-related consultations.
If you're having symptoms, please contact the Diagnosis and Consultation hotline mentioned above.

 Iwate Prefecture
Covid-19 Call Center
Hours: 9時00分AM – 9時00分Pm (including weekends and holidays)
Phone: 019-629-6085
Fax: 019-626-0837

 Ministry of Health
Covid-19 Call Center
Hours: 9時00分AM – 9時00分Pm (including weekends and holidays)
Phone: 0120-565653 (toll-free)
Fax: 03-3595-2756

Iwate Call Center for Foreign Residents

Run by the Iwate Support Center for Foreign Residents (Iwate International Association).

Hours: 9時00分AM - 8時00分Pm every day
Phone: 019-654-8900
Email: iwate-support-center@iwate-ia.or.jp

Jnto Foreign Language Coronavirus Hotline

The Japan National Tourism Organization (Jnto) runs a multilingual call center for foreigners to use in emergency situations. You can call any time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are taking questions related to Covid-19: call here if you think you have symptoms and can't use Japanese.

☎ 050-3816-2787
(English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese)

Yorisoi Helpline

Toll-free multilingual hotline for any problem, but especially for domestic violence and other difficult issues. After the Japanese guidance, press 2.

Monthly Schedule and Information＜外部リンク＞

SNS consultations via Facebook are available here.＜外部リンク＞

☎ 0120-279-226 #2

To All Residents

Take Thorough Measures to Prevent Infections

Since late March, Oshu's Public Health Center has continued to confirm new cases of Covid-19: multiple clusters as well as cases where the route of infection could not be determined.

In addition to the basic precautions you have steadily taken, such as wearing a mask, washing your hands, avoiding the 3 C's, and so on, we ask that Oshu residents be especially cautious when switching locations. These occasions can increase the risk of infection transmission.

[Switching Locations: From Work to Breaktime]

Even if almost everybody wears masks while working, it's easy to let your guard down when switching locations to take a break, but this can increase risk of infection.
In breakrooms, smoking areas, changing rooms, and so on, maintain a high awareness of infection control tactics. Regularly ventilate these spaces, practice social distancing, and avoid having mask-less conversations.

Plan for Handling Events and Preventing Covid-19

Oshu's strategy for its sponsored events is below.

Event Strategy (as of November 29th, 2021) [PDFファイル／57KB]

Infection Prevention at Home and At Mealtimes

At Mealtimes

Wear a mask for conversations while eating.
Keep a safe distance apart from others.

At Home

Wear a mask, except for at mealtimes.

※ Instances of mask-less conversations with acquaintances have been increasing.

※ However, please wear a mask for conversations at home, just like you would for going out shopping.

Prevent the Resurgence of Covid-19＜外部リンク＞

5 Situations that Increase Risk of Infection

The National Subcommittee Against Covid-19 has released guidance entitled 5 Situations that Increase Risk of Infection.

Please check and make sure that these 5 risky situations don't sneak into your life.

（English) 5 Situations that Increase Risk [PDFファイル／1月23日MB]

（中文）5 Situations that Increase Risk [PDFファイル／1月31日MB]

（やさしいにほんご）5 Situations that Increase Risk [PDFファイル／889KB]

Recommendations by the Subcommittee to the Government　(provisional translation) [PDFファイル／769KB]

Practice Kindness

Discrimination, prejudice, or slander against any Covid-19 patient or their contacts, healthcare workers or their families, shall not be tolerated.

Patients experience psychological suffering on top of recovering from the illness.

Thus, we ask that people be aware that anyone could become infected, and to avoid quickly believing or spreading rumors or unconfirmed information – rather, act calmly based on correct information.

Keep Going to the Doctor! Notice on Proper Use of Healthcare Centers

Even during a pandemic, preventative medicine and management of chronic conditions is important. See below for details:

Proper Use of Healthcare Facilities [PDFファイル／35KB]

Emergencies/Disasters and Covid-19

Oshu is prepared for emergencies during Covid-19. See this PDF for a brief reference and contact info in case of emergencies.

Evacuation Shelters and Covid-19 [PDFファイル／51KB]

Requests for When You Go Out

- Please continue to wear a mask and keep a safe distance away from others.
- When returning home, thoroughly wash your hands, sanitize with alcohol, gargle, etc.
- Be careful of heatstroke in summer weather; when it's safe to do so, take off your mask when outdoors.

To Residents of Iwate Prefecture (English) [PDFファイル／403KB]

To Residents of Iwate Prefecture (中文) [PDFファイル／327KB]

To Residents of Iwate Prefecture (Tiếng Việt) [PDFファイル／182KB]

For Businesses of Iwate Prefecture (English) [PDFファイル／363KB]

About Government Social Support

Oshu, Iwate, and the national government have established various forms of government social support.

Multilingual Resources / たくさんの言語 (げんご)のじょうほう

- Iwate Social Support＜外部リンク＞

- Oshu Financial Support

Support Options from Oshu

**Welfare**
Field	Scope	Description	Details	Contact
Loss of housing/fear of loss of housing	City	Financial Aid for Continued Housing [PDFファイル／175KB]	Rent support (with an upper limit.) Timeframe: generally 3 months, 9 months maximum	Lifestyle Security Support Office 0197-47-4546
Support for households with reduced income	Prefectural Social Welfare Association	Special Small Emergency Loans	Upper limit: 200,000 yen Grace period: not more than 1 year Repayment period: not more than 2 years No interest, no guarantor needed	Oshu City Social Welfare Association 0197-25-7171
Support for households with reduced income	Prefectural Social Welfare Association	Special General Support Loans	Upper limits: 200,000 yen/month for households with 2 or more people, 150,000 yen/month for solo householders Timeframe: generally 3 months Grace period: not more than 1 year Repayment period: not more than 10 years No interest, no guarantor needed	Oshu City Social Welfare Association 0197-25-7171

**Taxes/Utilities**
Field	Scope	Description	Details	Contact
Consultations about paying resident tax, property tax, etc.	City	City tax payment deferments [PDFファイル／63KB]	Deferments of various types of taxes due to loss of income	Oshu City Tax Payment Dept. 0197-34-2228
Easing of National Health Insurance payments	City	Easing of National Health Insurance Payments (2022) [PDFファイル／439KB]	Easing of insurance fees (based on bracket) for households that pay into National Health Insurance whose main earner's income has decreased	Oshu City Tax Dept. 0197-34-2173

More Lifestyle Support Measures (updated March 2021) [PDFファイル／42KB]

More Tax/Utilities Support Measures [PDFファイル／58KB]

From the Oshu City Public Health Center

If you have a cold or aren't feeling well, stay home and recover.
If symptoms worsen, put on a mask and quickly go to the hospital.
If there's someone sick in your household, have them wear a mask and use hand sanitizer when touching anything.
Meetings or gatherings with a lot of people should be limited as much as possible, and working from home should be considered as an option for employees.
Please be aware that hospitals, ambulances, and other healthcare resources, as well as medical staff, have limits. These resources are for people who really need it.

Oshu Public Health Center’s Twitter

Twitter

Oshu Public Health Center’s Instagram

Instagram

To International Residents and Families

We have put together multilingual information here. For the most recent info, though, check WHO or Japan's Ministry of Health (linked below.)

General Information / 一般 (いっぱん) 情報 (じょうほう)

Covid-19 Information and Resources＜外部リンク＞ (しんがた　ころな　ういるす　かんせんしょう　たいさく）

Multilingual information (incluing やさしいにほんご) about the covid-19 situation in Japan, from the national government.

たくさんの言語（げんご）で　コロナについての　情報（じょうほう）です。やさしい日本語（にほんご）もあります。

Mhlw ぽーたる＜外部リンク＞ (Mhlw Portal)

Links to various resources in English, Chinese, and other languages, including information for foreign workers.

英語 (えいご) と中国語 (ちゅうごくご) とたくさんの言語 (げんご)の情報 (じょうほう) です。仕事 (しごと)で働 (はたら)いている人 (ひと)のための情報 (じょうほう)もあります。

Regional Information

Information from Iwate Prefecture＜外部リンク＞

Test numbers and results, a message from the governor, prevention info, and Covid-19 call center/health center contact info for anywhere in Iwate.

Regarding Government Social Support＜外部リンク＞

Multilingual explanations of how to get financial support in Iwate.

Other / multiple languages

Multilingual Info Portal (via Clair)＜外部リンク＞

(やさしいにほんご、English, ภาษาไทย, Tiếng Việt, Tagalog, Français, 한국어, 中文(简体字), 中文(繁體字), Português, Español, Bahasa Indonesia, नेपाली, မြန်မာစာ, Deutsch, русский, ភាសាខ្មែរ, Монгол хэл)

Advice for Public (via WHO)＜外部リンク＞

(العربية, 中文、English, Français, русский, Español)

Point and Talk Board＜外部リンク＞

This is a link to view/download a point-and-talk PDF that has Covid-related words, phrases, and sentences in 13 languages to ease communication.

＜外部リンク＞