Kashiwa City Community Newspaper 2021.03.15

The state of emergency has been extended

Contact: Disaster Prevention and Safety Division 7167-1115, Fax: 7163-2188

The state of emergency has been extended for the metropolitan area and three prefectures (Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa). We understand that it is difficult to maintain a high level of caution after following the Covid-19 countermeasures for such a long period of time. However, your ongoing understanding and cooperation is appreciated as we work towards eliminating the strain on the health care system. (This information is current as of March 5.)

Please visit the Chiba Prefecture website for information on requests to the public and countermeasures for Covid-19.

▲Access the Chiba Prefecture website here.

Precautions while eating and drinking

The risk of spreading Covid-19 through droplets is considered to be higher while eating and drinking because this is a time when people remove their masks. Although mealtimes are enjoyable and people tend to relax their level of vigilance, this is a time when we need to be even more careful than usual.

Keep your mask on until the meal is served, and do not talk while you eat

Keep mealtime and conversation separate. Do not talk while you eat, and put your mask on before you talk.

Do not sit directly across from one another

If you shift your seat to the side to avoid sitting directly across the table from one another, you can reduce the amount of droplet spray that is transferred from person to person.

Keep your food separate

If you have a large plate of food to share, use separate serving chopsticks to transfer the food to your plate, or have the food already divided onto separate plates before it is served.

Preparations for Covid-19 vaccines are in progress

Contact: Kashiwa City Covid-19 Call Center – Phone: 7179−2313

(9:00am to 5:15pm excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

Fax: 7128-7253

Public Health Center, Health Promotion Division - Phone 7167-1256, Fax: 7164-1263

Covid-19 vaccinations in Japan started on February 17 for medical workers. Kashiwa City is also making every effort to ensure that the work to set up the vaccination system continues to progress. In this bulletin, we will provide information about the current status of the work. (This information is current as of March 5.)

What is the Covid-19 vaccine?

The Covid-19 vaccine is expected to prevent symptoms from occurring and becoming severe. Therefore, following the plan set out by the national government, Kashiwa City is working in cooperation with the Kashiwa Medical Association to go forward with the vaccine preparations and ensure that the vaccine is available to everyone who wishes to receive it. There is a risk of side effects from the vaccine, so both the effectiveness and the risks should be understood and accepted before receiving the vaccination. In addition, each person will require two doses of the vaccine. Vaccinations are free of charge (with the full cost covered by public funds).

How are the vaccinations provided?

In cooperation with the Kashiwa Medical Association, Kashiwa City aims to provide vaccinations safely and securely by mainly conducting them on an individual basis at local medical facilities by regular family doctors. Medical facilities that can provide vaccinations are currently in the final stages of preparations.

 

Preparations are progressing for group vaccinations to accommodate people who do not have a regular doctor. However, more specific information will be provided at a later date based on the vaccine supply situation.

What is the order of priority for vaccinations?

1. Medical workers

2. Older adults (people 65 years of age and older)

3. People with underlying medical conditions, and people working at facilities for older adults

4. People not included in 1 to 3 (Children age 15 and under are not eligible at this time.)

What about the vaccination tickets?

Vaccination tickets will be mailed individually to people who are eligible. When details are available regarding the vaccination times and locations, notices will be sent at different times to each eligible person. Although notices will be received at different times for each eligible person, notices will definitely be sent, so please wait patiently until you receive yours. As of the bulletin on March 1, vaccination tickets were scheduled to be sent out at the end of March. However, they will be sent out starting in April to coincide with the vaccination period.

People who are registered in the Kashiwa City Basic Residents’ Register will be eligible to receive a vaccination ticket by mail.

Information regarding the vaccine is available here

Kashiwa City is using several different methods to send out information about the vaccine.

▲Kashiwa City Official Website

Who to contact for information regarding the Covid-19 vaccine

Kashiwa City Covid-19 Vaccine Call Center

Phone: 7179-2313, Fax: 7128-7253

Hours of operation

8:30 am to 5:15 pm (not including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Covid-19 Vaccine Call Center

Phone: 0120-761770

Hours of operation

9:00am to 9:00pm

▲Access the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website here

 

Financial Assistance for Elementary School Closures - Extension of Benefit Period

Contact: Financial Assistance for School Closures – Benefit Reception Center

Phone: 0120-60-3999 (9:00am to 9:00pm)

The period of eligibility for financial assistance and benefits will be extended for people who were unable to work as a result of their child’s school or nursery school temporarily closing due to Covid-19.

Financial assistance for elementary school closures

Eligibility

Business operators who gave paid leave (not including annual paid leave) to workers who provide care for children as a parent or guardian.

Amount of financial assistance

The equivalent amount of wages paid to eligible workers who took paid leave.

A maximum of 15,000 yen per day of paid leave taken between October 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021.

▲Access the financial assistance website here

Financial assistance for elementary school closures

Eligibility

People who were unable to take on work requests because of an obligation to provide care for children (not including business operators who use employees).

Amount of financial assistance

7,500 yen for each day that work could not be done, between October 1 2020 and March 31, 2021.

▲Access the financial assistance website here

Items that apply to both types of financial assistance

Application period

▶For the number of days that work could not be done during the period between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 = Wednesday, March 31

▶ For the number of days that work could not be done during the period between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021 = Wednesday, June 30

To learn more about the application, please contact the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or visit their website.

The Kashiwa Station City Hall Service Center will be open on Sundays

Contact: Kashiwa Station City Hall Service Center

Phone: 7168-5500, Fax: 7168-5501

Reception counters will be open on Sundays to help alleviate crowding during the busiest period for moving in and moving out of the city.

Schedule

Sunday March 21, Sunday March 28, Sunday April 4 and Sunday April 11

8:30am to 5:00pm

Location

Kashiwa Station City Hall Service Center

Services provided

Change of residence registration (moving-in registration and moving-out registration), document issuance (certificate of residence, inkan registration certificate, tax certificate, etc.), inkan registration, family register procedures (marriage registration, birth registration, etc.), municipal tax payment, etc.

Distribution of Garbage Collection Calendars

Contact: Environmental Service Division - Phone: 7167-1139, Fax: 7163-3728

The 2021 Garbage Collection Calendar will be distributed by town associations, residents’ associations, localities and residence management companies. Please pick up a calendar directly from one of the following locations if you do not receive yours in March.

Distribution locations

Environmental Service Division (Kashiwa City Hall, 4th Floor), Shonan Branch General Affairs Division (Shonan Building 1st Floor), Kashiwa Station City Hall Service Center, Kinrin (Community) Centers, Branch Offices (only providing calendars for the local area)