March 16, 2022
Revised April 21, 2022

To all students in the Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University

NAGAI Takaya
Dean, Graduate School of Science

Thank you for your continued cooperation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Soon a new academic year will start, however, there is no immediate prospect of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is reported that the Omicron strain, the current main variant, has a low risk of serious illness for young people. However, we would like to remind you that our society is one in which various people live together, including the elderly and those at high risk of serious illness, such as those with underlying medical conditions. We ask you to take all possible infection control measures and to be conscious about “not infected” and “not transmit”.

In response to this, the Graduate School of Science will take the following measures in the new semester when the BCP is Level 2 or lower.

1. Traveling and Outings

• Please keep your travel outside Hokkaido to a minimum and be aware of all measures for infection prevention when traveling. For long-term business trips, job hunting, home visiting, etc., please be sure to inform your supervisor of your traveling destination and period.

2. Visiting Campus

• Please look after your health by checking your temperature daily etc., and if you have cold-like symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, and cough, please do not come to campus.
• We have decided to open the School of Science Building during daytime hours.
• We ask for your cooperation in not entering or leaving through the Museum entrance in order to reduce the chance of contact with the general public.
• Please be sure to wear a face mask when you enter the buildings and when you conduct activities (including when moving around). If it’s difficult to wear a mask for health reasons, please consult your supervisor or your class teacher beforehand.
• Please keep your time in the Science Buildings to a minimum.
• You are not allowed to use the Science buildings except for class attendance and research purposes.
• When eating on campus, please refrain from eating and talking with large groups of people.

3. Classes

• Classes will be conducted in the most suitable way for each class with infection prevention measures. Please follow the instructions of the teacher in charge of the class.
• The announcement of classes, study and campus life will be posted on ELMS (es00039) Notices from the Science and Life Science Administration Department (common to both undergraduate and graduate schools), so please check it regularly.

4. About Research Activities

• For research activities, under your supervisor’s instructions, please take all infection control measures and keep your laboratory stay to a minimum.
• For outdoor research activities, obtain permission from your supervisor, avoid “three C’s” while traveling, and take all infection control measures.

5. Inquiries about Study and Campus Life

In order to improve the level of student service, the Academic Affairs Division is taking the following measures against COVID-19.

• Please check ELMS (es00039) Notices from the Science and Life Science Administration Department (common to both undergraduate and graduate schools) for notices from the Graduate School Educational Affairs Section.
• For any questions about study or procedures, please contact the Graduate School Educational Affairs Section by email (r-gakuin(at)sci.hokudai.ac.jp).
• Applications for certificates and various submissions are accepted 24 hours a day using designated report boxes. (If there is an instruction on how to submit the report, please follow the instruction.)
• If you have an urgent matter, do not hesitate to come to the counter.

6. Mental Care Office

• The Faculty of Science has a Mental Care Office. Currently, it only offers email or telephone consultations. A clinical psychologist counselor is offering consulting services. If you have any concerns and/or anxiety, please make an appointment by e-mail (nayami(at)sci.hokudai.ac.jp) for a phone consultation. Consultation by e-mail only is also available.
  For more information, please visit: https://www2.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/faculty/counseling.

7. Contact information in case you are diagnosed with COVID-19

• If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are suspected of being infected, or if you have been designated as close contact, you must report to the number below (Do not come to the University).
  Weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Graduate School Educational Affairs Section 011-706-3675
• If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 at night, on the weekend, or on holiday, call the Disaster Prevention Center of the School of Science immediately. The administration office will call you back to ask about your situation.
  Weekdays from 5:00 p.m. – / Weekends and holidays all day,
  Disaster Prevention Center of the School of Science 011-706-2660