Infection Prevention Measures During the Year End/New Year Holidays

To all Osaka University Staff and Students,

A year marked by COVID-19 is drawing to a close. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to all of our students and university staff for your continued cooperation with infection prevention measures.

COVID-19 has upended our way of life. Between moving from classrooms to online learning environments, dealing with limited extracurricular activities, and missing out on entrance ceremonies, university festivals, and more, our students in particular have seen a great deal of change to their routine. Of course, Osaka University Staff have also greatly exerted themselves to respond to these changes.

So as to minimize any effects on education and research, and to offer our students a satisfying academic lifestyle despite the current circumstances, the University has endeavored to operate as normal as possible.

Still, we must bear in mind that the threat of sudden infection at the University is possible. Infection prevention measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of infection even if someone becomes infected. In this way, we are doing all we can to protect our students and staff.

Despite our best efforts, more than 50 people from the University have been infected. However, the number of cases has not grown considerably thanks to all of us adhering to established infection prevention measures. This tells me that such measures are proving effective.

The Year End/New Year holidays bring with them a number of events both professional and private. I would like to remind everyone that it is critical to thoroughly adhere to infection prevention measures. Doing so will prevent the further spread of infection and allow us to continue our current education and research activities. In particular, mid-January marks the Common Test for University Admissions period. How you spend your Year End/New Year holidays is vital to ensuring the University can enter this period without considerably adjusting its operations.

Even more vital is the announcement from Osaka Prefecture regarding the state of emergency for medical care. The so-called third wave of the virus is upon us, and I strongly urge all of us to change our habits to lighten the burden on Japan’s overloaded healthcare system.

Finally, I would like to ask for everyone’s strict adherence to the infection prevention measures detailed on this page . Adhering to these measures will ensure the safety of you, those close to you, and essential workers. Everyone’s effort will enable us to overcome this crisis all the sooner.

I want to offer my gratitude for your understanding and cooperation, and I wish you all a happy new year.

NISHIO Shojiro

President