To those who meet the definition of a close contact

We have decided to temporarily limit the scope of Covid-19 testing in Niigata prefecture.
We would like to request that, if you become infected with Covid-19, you will contact your friends and colleagues that you believe may be a “close contact”* about the following information.
* Please determine who you should notify as a close contact based on the definitions below.　

・ Contact those who fall under the definition of a close contact to inform them that you tested positive for Covid-19.
・ Check Niigata Prefectural Government’s Website (“For those who meet the definition of a close contact”)
・ Please refer to the “Self-quarantine period for a close contact " section below and self-quarantine for the appropriate amount of time
・ From Day 8 to 10, monitor your health and check your temperature daily, avoid going out to high-risk places and eating or drinking with others, and follow infection prevention measures such as wearing a mask.
・　If you develop a fever or have other changes in your health, please consult with your primary care doctor or a health center for consultation/examination.

You are considered to be a close contact if you had contact with a person who is confirmed as infected with Covid-19 during the time when they were possibly infectious (※1) and if the following (※2) conditions apply to you:

※1 Possibly infectious period
(1) With symptoms: from 2 days before the infected person begins having symptoms until they complete their treatment.
(2) No symptoms: From 2 days before the day of the infected persons’ positive test result until they complete their medical treatment.

※2 Scope of close contacts (*See note)
A close contact is a person who engaged in any of the following:
 Lives or had long-term contact with the infected person
 Had contact with the infected person within arm’s reach (about 1 meter), without wearing masks properly, for more than 15 minutes.
 Gave medical care or physical assistance to the infected person without appropriate infection protection equipment (e.g. without masks)
 Was at high risk of direct contact with the infected person’s respiratory secretions or bodily fluids, etc.
*Note: This definition of a close contact is based on the “Manual for Active Epidemiological Surveillance of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Infection (November 29, 2021 version)” by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases’ Center for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development.

Examples of high-risk close contact scenarios:
・ Talking while eating and drinking at a short distance.
・ Talking in the break room or changing room without wearing a mask.
・ Smoking together at the smoking area
・ Spending a long time sitting near each other
・ Spending a long time together in a poorly ventilated space (including inside a car)

How to spend your self-quarantine period:
(1) Please refer to the “Self-quarantine period for a close contact” section below and self-quarantine for the appropriate amount of time
・ Please refrain from non-essential outings (including commuting to work or school)
・ If you have to go out, be sure to wear a mask and take infection prevention measures such as disinfecting your hands, and do not use public transportation (such as trains, buses, taxis and airplanes)
(2) Please monitor your health condition every day during this period
・Please check your temperature twice a day
・Please pay attention for any symptoms of a cold, such as a fever, runny nose, cough, or a sore throat.
(3) It is not necessary to self-quarantine for more than 8 days, however, until 10 days have passed, please be sure to monitor your health condition such as daily temperature checks, avoid going out to high-risk places and eating or drinking with others, and, follow infection prevention measures such as wearing a mask.

If you have any symptoms of a cold such as a fever, runny nose, cough, or sore throat:

(1) Please consult your primary care doctor
(2) If you do not have a primary care doctor:
 ○For those who can speak Japanese
Please call the Niigata Prefecture Covid-19 Consultation Center (025-256-8275, 025-385-7541, 025-385-7634) or your local health center.
 ○For those who do not speak Japanese
Please call the Niigata Prefecture Covid-19 Multilingual Consultation Hotline (025-256-8573)