What to do if you suspect to be infected with COVID-19

1.Please tele-consult with a doctor before going to a hospital

Please call and consult your main doctor or a doctor near your place of residence before going to see them if you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever. Doctors that speak foreign languages may be found by using the Shiga Prefecture Medical Information.

Convey the following information below while tele-consulting

• What symptoms you are experiencing (ex. fever, coughing, sore throat, tiredness,loss or change of sense of taste and/or smell)
• How high your temperature is if you have a fever
• How long these symptoms have been present
• If you have a medical history and what diseases you’ve experienced before

Be careful when going to see a doctor

• Please follow each medical institution’s instructions in addition to tele-consulting with them.
• Please wear a mask and thoroughly disinfect your hands.

Your doctor will determine if there is a need for you to be tested for influenza or COVID-19. 

2. Call the consultation center if you don’t know any nearby doctors

Please call the consultation center in the case that you do not know any nearby doctors, it being the middle of the night or a holiday, and/or you have been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19. The consultation center will introduce you to a doctor.

Emergency rooms and after hour emergency clinics do not offer COVID-19 tests as a general rule. 

Contact Information

If you don’t understand Japanese

It is possible to use interpretation services provided by the ministry of health, labor, and welfare in the case that you want to call the consultation center, but cannot understand Japanese.

Interpretation Service Target

Foreign visitors/residents and their families who wish to receive a consultation concerning COVID-19 may use the service.

Foreign Language

English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese is available for interpretation.

Service Usage Period

The interpretation service is available until March 31^st, 2021.

Fees

Interpretation fees will be charged when calling.

How to Use the Consultation Service

1. Call the interpretation service listed below.

       Tel: 03-6436-4818

2. The operator will be speaking Japanese. Select your language by dialing the corresponding number.

1.  English
2. Chinese
3. Korean
4. Portuguese
5. Spanish

3. The interpreter will be on the line next. Please speak with them concerning your inquiry.

Those at Risk of Severe Illness

Those experiencing the following symptoms and/or belong to the following groups are considered to be high-risk groups. Please call a medical institution or the consultation center as soon as possible.

1. Difficulty breathing, extreme sluggishness, high fever, and other severe symptoms
2. Senior citizens
3. Those with a history of diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease
4. Those undergoing dialysis treatment
5. Those taking cancer medication and experiencing symptoms such as fever and coughing
6. Those experiencing light cold symptoms such as fever and/or coughing over a period of more than four days. Please phone the consultation center regardless if you have been taking fever reducing medications.

Pregnant Women

Expecting mothers are advised to take the same precautions and to call a medical profession or the consultation center as soon as possible in case of illness.