(Updates) University Response
to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This page is for updates on the university response to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Procedures for Dealing with Infectious Diseases

Preparations Underway for Workplace Vaccinations to Start in Mid-July, in Cooperation with the Hyogo College of Medicine (2021.06.15)

The on-campus vaccination program has successfully concluded.
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In light of the government's policy of starting COVID-19 vaccinations in workplaces and schools, the Kwansei Gakuin Educational Foundation has begun preparations to start on-campus vaccinations for approximately 30,000 students, staff, faculty and employees in mid-July 2021. The vaccinations will be carried out in cooperation with the Hyogo College of Medicine, with whom we signed a comprehensive academic exchange agreement in 2007. Since then, we have been conducting student exchanges and offering courses to each other.

Workplace vaccinations will not only protect the health, safety and security of those who are affiliated with Kwansei Gakuin, but will also reduce the burden on local authorities and help prevent infection in the local community as a whole. In order to implement the vaccination, we will coordinate with all related parties in making preparations.

Please note that vaccinations (using the vaccine manufactured by Moderna) will be carried out after confirming with eligible students, teachers and staff whether they wish to be vaccinated or not. It will not be forced on those who do not wish to be vaccinated. Those who do not receive the vaccination will not be disadvantaged in any way.

Maximum number of people expected to be vaccinated: Approximately 30,000 people

Those eligible:
● Students and graduate students of Kwansei Gakuin University and Seiwa College.
● Faculty and staff (including part-time and temporary staff) of the Kwansei Gakuin Educational Foundation.
● Other affiliated employees on each Kwansei Gakuin campus.
● Affiliated members of the local community in proximity to the Uegahara campus.

The Moderna vaccine is only available to those aged 18 and over. We are considering the format of the vaccination for students of Kwansei Gakuin High School, Senri International High School and Osaka International School.

Vaccination site: Nishinomiya Uegahara Campus
Vaccination period: Mid-July to late September 2021
Vaccination system: Doctors, nurses, etc. at the Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, as well as staff at the university's medical facility (the Health Care Center). Two doses of the vaccine are required, with a four-week interval between doses.

The details of the vaccination schedule will be announced as soon as they become available.

Level of Restrictions on University Activities Raised to Level 4, and Changes to Class Format (2021.04.10)

Due to the rapid spread of infections in the prefectures of Hyogo and Osaka, where our school’s campuses are located, we have determined that the situation merits serious attention, as a sign of explosive growth in the number of infections. Starting Monday, we will raise the level of restrictions on university activities from Level 3 (partial restrictions) to Level 4 (major restrictions), and aim to strengthen our on-campus infection prevention measures. Kwansei Gakuin University will take the status of COVID-19 infections into consideration, and implement each activity after taking measures to prevent infection.

In addition, we have established "activity resumption standards" corresponding to the "activity restriction levels" and based on these standards, we will consider the conditions and restrictions on the implementation of each activity, including classes, use of campus facilities, and extracurricular activities. These standards are guidelines for the university as a whole, and detailed guidelines will be established and implemented for each activity. The "activity restriction levels" and "activity resumption standards” are expected to undergo revision in accordance with changes in national and local guidelines, as well as changes in the infection prevention situation.

View the updated levels here.

Current Coronavirus Countermeasures at KGU (2020.03.23)
The novel coronavirus infection is continuing to spread in Japan. Notably, a panel of experts with expertise regarding novel coronavirus clusters—part of MEXT’s coronavirus taskforce—has said that the number of infected people in the prefectures of Osaka and Hyogo could skyrocket, and the governments in both prefectures have called for people to avoid nonessential, non-urgent travel.
 On January 31, Kwansei Gakuin University established a crisis committee, and in addition to making decisions on how to handle students entering or returning to Japan from abroad, as well as exchange students, the university took steps to prevent the spread of infection by suspending university-run events and activities where participants come together from various areas before dispersing. As a result, the university cancelled the graduation ceremony and entrance ceremony. Furthermore, taking the requests from the Osaka and Hyogo prefectural governments for self-quarantine—and the three high-risk elements for the emergence of clusters, as noted by government experts—into account, the university has formulated rules for students, faculty and staff members to take in order to avoid the risk of spreading infection, and has taken thorough measures to prevent the spread.
 On March 20, one Kwansei Gakuin University student was confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus. After returning from studying abroad, the student developed a fever after several days, and contacted the Health Care Center to receive instructions. After taking a PCR test, the student was diagnosed as positive. The student is currently being hospitalized at a designated medical institution, but does not have a fever or cough. The student has not come to school once since returning to Japan, and the other students who accompanied them are quarantined at home for two weeks.
 Kwansei Gakuin University will take future recommendations from government experts into account, and based on cooperation with government health departments, the university will continue to take robust university-wide countermeasures to maintain the safety and health of its students, faculty and staff members, in addition to a good campus environment.