午夜剧场

News related to the novel coronavirus infection (hereinafter referred to as "this disease"), which originated in Wuhan, China and spread, began to be reported in Japan in early January of this year. At the Occupational Health Committee of the Japanese Society of Travel and Medicine (JSTM) (Chair: the author) held in a timely manner on January 9, we discussed whether JSTM, which covers all aspects of travel-related medical care, should disseminate information about this disease. Meanwhile, as early as January 16, the first infected person was reported in Japan, and there were concerns that this disease was not just someone else's problem, but that the infection would spread within Japan as well.

Inquiries from companies with overseas assignments gradually increased, and while the Occupational Health Committee of the Japanese Society of Travel and Medicine was preparing to disseminate accurate information to corporate HR representatives, we received a proposal from the Overseas Working Health Management Study Group of the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) to jointly disseminate information. Although it was only three pages long, it was on February 1 that we uploaded "Information on the Novel Coronavirus: Measures Required for Companies and Individuals" to our website. This was the day the government designated the disease as a "Designated Infectious Disease" under the Infectious Diseases Act and a "Quarantinable Infectious Disease" under the Quarantine Act, following the WHO's declaration on January 30 that the disease was a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern." Subsequently, we repeatedly revised the "Information on the Novel Coronavirus," including situations such as the issuance of the state of emergency (April 7) and changes to the definition of close contacts.

In late April, the document was made an official publication of the Japanese Society of Travel and Medicine and the Japan Society for Occupational Health, and the title was changed to "COVID-19 Control Guide for Workplaces." On May 11, the first edition, consisting of 46 pages, was uploaded. Since it was during the state of emergency, it also touched upon business continuity, employees returning to work, benefits, and matters related to wages and leave allowances. Following the nationwide lifting of the state of emergency on May 25, the second edition, which included business resumption and medium- to long-term measures, was uploaded on June 4. It described company responses when employees become infected or close contacts, responses for business travelers and expatriates, as well as telework and mental health, precautions for holding shareholders' meetings, and legal considerations.

Measures against the novel coronavirus infection, which is a major threat to humanity, need to be considered from a medium- to long-term perspective, and I hope that the "Control Guide" will be useful to all 午夜剧场 alumni.

For details, please refer to the Japanese Society of Travel and Medicine and the Japan Society for Occupational Health.