A normal oral temperature for an average-sized 37-year-old patient in good health

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease)

Date:2022.01.25

This list of FAQ for students, faculty and staff members has been prepared based on regular inquiries made to the Keio University Health Center regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease). It will continue to be updated as required. Please refer to it for more information. If you belong to an affiliated school or are based at the Shinanomachi Campus, please follow the policies of the school or campus.

About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Keio University Health Center)
Q&A on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

What is COVID-19?

Q1：What is COVID-19?
Q2：What is meant by "underlying medical conditions" that can exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19?

Preventing infection / How to spend your time during the university closure / Hosting of events and group activities

Q1：I would like to know about the university's policies and the hosting of ceremonies.
Q2： I would like to consult with the Health Center. Please inform me of the center's contact details.
Q3：We are planning an event at which many people are due to attend. Will it still be okay to go ahead with the event as scheduled?Additionally, will we be able to obtain hand disinfectants and masks from the Health Center for use during the event?
Q4： Multiple cold-like symptoms have been reported by the clubs of the Athletic Association, etc. As there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19, will it be okay for the clubs to continue with their activities?
Q5：The university is closed. How should I spend my time until the university reopens?
Q6：Does "refraining from going outside" mean that I should stay at home all day long? It is really disheartening to think that I cannot eat out, go to the gym, attend lessons, or otherwise get a change of scenery.
Q7：There are a variety of masks on the market. What kind of mask should I use to prevent transmission of COVID-19?

If you have symptoms / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1： I have a fever (37.5℃ or above). What should I do?
Q2：Should I interpret the instruction for people who have cold-like symptoms such as a cough or fever (37.5℃ or above) to refrain from coming to the university or place of work to mean that COVID-19 is an infectious disease designated by the School Health and Safety Act? I will not be able to receive a medical certificate unless I visit a hospital. Will I still be able to carry out the required procedures at the Health Center without a medical certificate?
Q3：I have a fever and was diagnosed with influenza. From when will I be able to return to the university or my place of work?
Q4：I have a fever and was diagnosed with infectious gastroenteritis. From when will I be able to return to the university or my place of work?
Q5：I am being treated for hay fever. I cannot tell whether I am sneezing, have a runny nose, and an impaired sense of smell and taste because of my hay fever, a regular cold, or the coronavirus (COVID-19). Is it okay for me to come to work as normal?
Q6：I am taking classes online, so I do not go to the campus. Because I had a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher I reported this to the Health Center and was told to observe my health. I will remain isolated while I have a fever, but should I also stop taking my online classes during this period?
Q7：I am a member of a student group or the Athletic Association but I have not seen anyone for 2 weeks or more. Because I had a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, I reported this to the Health Center and was told to observe my health. Should I also inform the other members of my student group or club?
Q8：n the case of having any symptoms, we were instructed to report the details to the Keio University Health Center. I understand that the criteria permitting my return to the campus are confirmation that the fever has ubsided without the need to take antipyretics (body temperature is less than 37℃) or that the symptoms have improved, and that this condition has continued for at least 48 hours. Could you please also tell me the criteria for staying at home and returning to work in the following cases.
①In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature was between 37 to 37.4℃ before soon returning to his or her normal temperature:
②In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃ and this state has persisted for several days:
③In the case of someone whose normal temperature is sometimes between 37 to 37.4℃, his or her body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃, and this state has persisted for several days:

If you have had contact or possible contact with someone who has contracted COVID-19 / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1：Under what circumstances is a person considered to have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
Q2：I am considered to be a person who has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and have been instructed to self-isolate at home by a Public Health Center or the Keio University Health Center. During this period, is it okay for me to visit a hospital/clinic or go to the shops?
Q3： I have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 without adequate protection to prevent infection. Will it still be okay for me to come into the university or my place of work?
Q4： I have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 upon taking the necessary precautions to prevent infection. Am I permitted to come into the university or my place of work?
Q5： I know someone who has contracted COVID-19 at my campus/place of work. I am unsure as to whether or not I had contact with this person. What should I do?
Q6： A family member who lives with me was considered a person who has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was told to stay at home. What should I do as an individual who is in contact with someone deemed to have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient?
Q7： After downloading the COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application(COCOA)，I was notified of the possibility of having been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.I do not have any of the applicable symptoms and there is no one infected among my close friends and family. What should I do?
Q8： Although I do not have any particular subjective symptoms、 I was worried about COVID-19 and paid to undergo a medical examination. The result of the PCR test (or antibody titer test) was negative. Do I need to report this to the Keio University Health Center?

If diagnosed with COVID-19 / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1： I have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at a medical institution. What should I do?

About COVID-19

Q1：What is COVID-19?

Q2： What is meant by "underlying medical conditions" that can exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19?

A2：Underlying medical conditions refer to disorders such as diabetes, heart failure, and respiratory disease (COPD, etc.) as well as to people who are currently undergoing dialysis or using immunosuppressants, carcinostatic (anticancer) drugs, etc.

Preventing infection / How to spend your time during the university closure / Hosting of events and group activities

Q1：I would like to know about the university's policies and the hosting of ceremonies.

Q2： I would like to consult with the Health Center. Please inform me of the center's contact details.

Q3：We are planning an event at which many people are due to attend. Will it still be okay to go ahead with the event as scheduled?Additionally, will we be able to obtain hand disinfectants and masks from the Health Center for use during the event?

Q4：Multiple cold-like symptoms have been reported by clubs of the Athletic Association, etc. As there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19, will it be okay for the clubs to continue with their activities?

Q5：The university is closed. How should I spend my time until the university reopens?

A5：The university is closed to prevent the spread of infection by COVID-19. Please refrain from going outside unless absolutely necessary. Please be sure to keep an eye on your health and look after your physical condition by getting sufficient sleep and nutritional intake, and by keeping well hydrated. Please enforce a strict regimen of hand washing and follow the cough etiquette.

Preventing respiratory infections such as COVID-19

Q6：Does "refraining from going outside" mean that I should stay at home all day long? It is really disheartening to think that I cannot eat out, go to the gym, attend lessons, or otherwise get a change of scenery.

A6：To "refrain from going outside" is to avoid leaving the house when it is unnecessary or nonurgent (this does not include matters that have to be dealt with that day). It means avoiding any gatherings where the three dangers of "Closed spaces," "Crowded places," and "Close-contact setting" coincide as well as not going out for meals or the night.
As yet open-ended requests are being made to refrain from going outside, which invites anxiety and can lead to stress. There are also likely many people who feel it is no longer safe to touch anything due to suffering from corona-phobia or a fear of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease).
Going for walks in the early morning and at night when there are fewer people around, or taking up yoga, stretching, pilates, etc., indoors can help refresh the mind and body. Additionally, communicating with friends and acquaintances using Line and e-mail or over the phone can also help alleviate feelings of loneliness. You could also take this opportunity to do things you weren't able to find time for during your usual routine such as reading any books you have bought or watching movies and dramas you have recorded.

Q7：There are a variety of masks on the market. What kind of mask should I use to prevent transmission of COVID-19?

A7：The effectiveness of masks and face coverings is being assessed by the supercomputer "Fugaku" in simulations comparing masks made from non-woven fabric, cloth masks, and urethane masks. According to the simulations, non-woven masks were the most effective in terms of reducing the amount of droplets both inhaled and expelled. However, when worn incorrectly, non-woven masks will spread even more droplets than cloth or urethane masks. It is important to use a mask that is sized and worn correctly.

The right way to wear a mask
How to put it on
・To prevent air leakage at the top of mask, make sure to bend the nose wire over your nose to conform to your face after putting it on your ears.
・Spread the pleats and cover the area from under the eyes to below the chin closing all gaps

Mask-handling precautions
・Do not use a mask with your nose exposed or remove it when talking.
・When you take off your mask for meals, etc., store it in a plastic bag or mask case.
・Hold the strings when taking off your mask.
・Wash or disinfect your hands if you touch the surface of the mask you are using.

Reference: How to wear a mask properly (source: Japanese Government Internet TV)
English version：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEZanmMGqdg

If you have symptoms / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1：I have a fever (37.5℃ or above). What should I do?

A1： ① Please stay at home if you have cold-like symptoms with a fever of 37.5℃ or above. Additionally, if these symptoms last for 4 days or more (approximately 2 days in the case of the elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions), or if you feel weary (fatigued) and experience shortness of breath (breathing difficulties), please consult with your nearest public health center by phone or call the phone consultation service and follow the instructions provided.

For the period you are to stay at home, use a health management chart to record and keep track of your temperature.

Health management chart (body temperature chart)

Please refrain from going outside unless absolutely necessary. If you do go outside, please wear a mask at all times and enforce a strict regimen of hand washing.

② Please report to the Health Center online.

Report form

③ Confirmation that your fever has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medicines (temperature is less than 37.0℃) and that you have remained in this condition for at least 48 hours are the criteria permitting your return to the university or place of work. Please bring your health management chart with you to the Health Center and attend an interview to determine whether or not you will be permitted to return to the university or place of work.

Permission of Return to Campus (students), Permission of Return to Campus (faculty and staff members)

Because the possibility of having been infected by COVID-19 cannot be completely refuted, after your fever has subsided, please wear a mask at all times and refrain from participating in group activities for which you will have to remove your mask (meals, club activities, etc.) for a period of two weeks.

Q2：Should I interpret the instruction for people who have cold-like symptoms such as a cough or fever (37.5℃ or above) to refrain from coming to the university or place of work to mean that COVID-19 is an infectious disease designated by the School Health and Safety Act? I will not be able to receive a medical certificate unless I visit a hospital. Will I still be able to carry out the required procedures at the Health Center without a medical certificate?

Q3：I have a fever and was diagnosed with influenza. From when will I be able to return to the university or my place of work?

A3：Influenza is a Class 2 Infectious Disease as designated by the School Health and Safety Act. As a rule, you are not permitted to return to the university or place of work until five days after you first developed symptoms, and two days have passed since the fever subsided. (At least 48 hours must have elapsed after the fever has subsided for faculty and staff members.)
Please obtain permission to return to the university or place of work from the Health Center if you were diagnosed with influenza.

Report after infectious disease is resolved

Q4：I have a fever and was diagnosed with infectious gastroenteritis. From when will I be able to return to the university or my place of work?

A4：Infectious gastroenteritis (norovirus, rotavirus, etc.) falls under a Class 3 Infectious Disease as designated by the School Health and Safety Act. As a rule, you are not permitted to return to the university or place of work until your symptoms have resolved (as judged by the attending doctor).
Please obtain permission to return to the university or place of work from the Health Center if you were diagnosed with infectious gastroenteritis.

Report after infectious disease is resolved

Q5：I am being treated for hay fever. I cannot tell whether I am sneezing, have a runny nose, and an impaired sense of smell and taste because of my hay fever, a regular cold, or the coronavirus (COVID-19). Is it okay for me to come to work as normal?

A5：The possibility of being infected with COVID-19 cannot be ruled out. Please do not come to the university and consult with your primary care physician about taking a PCR test, etc.

Q6：I am taking classes online, so I do not go to the campus. Because I had a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher I reported this to the Health Center and was told to observe my health. I will remain isolated while I have a fever, but should I also stop taking my online classes during this period?

A6：In the case of regular classes, you may be absent if you are not feeling well. For online classes too, if you are not feeling well enough to concentrate on the class content or if the class requires you to be physically active such as doing exercise, please consult with the faculty member in charge of the course. If you feel well enough to participate in the online classes, please do so.

Q7：I am a member of a student group or the Athletic Association but I have not seen anyone for 2 weeks or more. Because I had a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, I reported this to the Health Center and was told to observe my health. Should I also inform the other members of my student group or club?

A7：It is recommended that you inform the person in charge of your student group or club for early detection of cluster outbreaks. However, if you have not been in contact with anyone in your group or club within the last 2 weeks (the incubation period) or more and will not be in contact with anyone for 48 hours after your fever subsides, you are not required to inform the person in charge of your student group or club. This does depend, however, on the group or club you belong to, so please check with them.

Q8：In the case of having any symptoms, we were instructed to report the details to the Keio University Health Center. I understand that the criteria permitting my return to the campus are confirmation that the fever has subsided without the need to take antipyretics (body temperature is less than 37℃) or that the symptoms have improved, and that this condition has continued for at least 48 hours. Could you please also tell me the criteria for staying at home and returning to work in the following cases.
①In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature was between 37 to 37.4℃ before soon returning to his or her normal temperature:
②In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃ and this state has persisted for several days:
③In the case of someone whose normal temperature is sometimes between 37 to 37.4℃, his or her body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃, and this state has persisted for several days:

A8：
①In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature was between 37 to 37.4℃ before soon returning to his or her normal temperature:
→To prevent group infections, please take extra care when you come into work (increase the number of times you take your temperature, avoid contact with people, etc.).
②In the case of someone whose normal temperature is between 36 and 36.9 ℃ but whose body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃ and this state has persisted for several days:
→To prevent group infections, please only come into work after confirming that you do not have any health issues at a medical institution.
③In the case of someone whose normal temperature is sometimes between 37 to 37.4℃, his or her body temperature is currently between 37 to 37.4 ℃, and this state has persisted for several days:
→To prevent group infections, please take extra care when you come into work (increase the number of times you take your temperature, avoid contact with people, etc.); however, in cases where your body temperature is higher than normal, the period for which your temperature is between 37 to 37.4℃ is longer than usual, or you have any other symptoms, please only come into work after confirming that you do not have any health issues at a medical institution.

If you have had contact or possible contact with someone who has contracted COVID-19 / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1：Under what circumstances is a person considered to have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

A1：In most cases, the public health center will carry out an investigation (active epidemiological investigation) and individually determine whether or not you are regarded as a person who has been in close contact with someone who is Infected with COVID-19.
Additionally, even if you have not been designated by the public health center as a person who has been in close contact with someone who is Infected with COVID-19, depending on the surrounding environment and circumstances such as the likelihood of close contact, the school or industrial physician may determine that you should be treated the same as a person who has been in close contact with someone who is Infected with COVID-19.

Of the persons who have been in contact with an individual who has tested positive (confirmed case) during the period when it is possible to contract the virus, those who fall under the following will be regarded as a person who has been in close contact with someone who is Infected with COVID-19.
＊The period when it is possible to contract the virus is the period from 2 days before the onset of suspected COVID-19 symptoms to the beginning of the quarantine.
・Persons who lived or had prolonged contact (travelled together in a car, airplane, etc.) with an individual who has tested positive (confirmed case)
・Persons who have examined, nursed, or cared for an individual who has tested positive (confirmed case) without appropriate protection to prevent infection.
・Persons who are highly likely to have had direct contact with contaminants such as respiratory secretions or body fluids of an individual who has tested positive (confirmed case)
・Other: Persons who have been in close proximity (about 1 meter) to an individual who has tested positive (confirmed case) for 15 minutes or more without appropriate protection to prevent infection.

Q2： I am considered to be a person who has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and have been instructed to self-isolate at home by a Public Health Center or the Keio University Health Center. During this period, is it okay for me to visit a hospital/clinic or go to the shops?

A2：Please refrain from going out into the public unless absolutely necessary. If you do go outside, please wear a mask at all times and enforce a strict regimen of hand washing. If symptoms appear while you are required to stay at home, please seek the advice of your local Fever Consultation Center and report back to the Keio University Health Center on the results of your consultation. You are not allowed to come into the university during your period of self-isolation. Upon the conclusion of the two weeks, please only come into the university after receiving permission to return to the university after illness from the Keio University Health Center.

Q3：I have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 without adequate protection to prevent infection. Will it still be okay for me to come into the university or my place of work?

A3: There is a possibility that you are infected. Please report this to the Keio University Health Center.

Q4：I have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 upon taking the necessary precautions to prevent infection. Am I permitted to come into the university or my place of work?

A4：If you followed the guidelines in the "Appropriate Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hand Hygiene" when you came in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and do not have any symptoms such as a fever (37.5℃ or above), you are permitted to come into the university or place of work as normal.

Q5：I know someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the campus.

A5：If notified, the Keio University Health Center will conduct an investigation of people with whom an infected individual has been in contact, and will inform you if it is determined that you are an individual who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Q6：A family member who lives with me was considered a person who has had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was told to stay at home. What should I do as an individual who is in contact with someone deemed to have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient?

A6: As an extra precaution, please contact the public health center that determined your family member to be an "individual who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19" to check what actions you need to take. If that public health center does not specifically instruct you to self-isolate at home, please consult the Keio University Health Center at the campus to which you belong. If you do not receive instructions from the Keio University Health Center to self-isolate at home, you may go to your workplace or come to the campus, but you must wear a mask and perform thorough hand hygiene.
However, because COVID-19 infections are spreading throughout Japan, there is no way of knowing when or where you may become infected. It may be at a restaurant or on public transportation. Do not only become concerned when someone close to you becomes a person who has had close contact with a COVID-19 patient. Please always pay attention to your health condition (take your temperature and check for symptoms daily), perform thorough hand hygiene, etc., when you go out, and take sufficient measures to prevent becoming infected and spreading the virus.

Q7：After downloading the COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA)，I was notified of the possibility of having been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.I do not have any of the applicable symptoms and there is no one infected among my close friends and family. What should I do?

A7： You are not required to report this to the Keio University Health Center.
Please keep an eye on any changes in your physical condition over the next two weeks (14 days). If any symptoms appear,
①please immediately make an appointment at your nearest outpatient facility for returnees and potential contacts and undergo a medical examination.
Multilingual Visitor Hotline (24H) on new coronavirus.
②Please also report this via the Keio University Health Center website.
COVID-19 Report of staying at home

Q8：Although I do not have any particular subjective symptoms、 I was worried about COVID-19 and paid to undergo a medical examination. The result of the PCR test was negative. Do I need to report this to the Keio University Health Center?

A8： You are not required to report this to the Keio University Health Center.

If diagnosed with COVID-19 / Reporting to the Health Center

Q1：I have been diagnosed with COVID-19 at a medical institution. What should I do?

A1：COVID-19 is regarded as a "Class 1 Infectious Disease," and you are not permitted to come into the university or place of work. Please immediately inform the Keio University Health Center if you have been diagnosed as infected or are suspected of being infected. Please follow the instructions you have been given from the medical institution you visited in regard to coming into the university or place of work.
Notification of an infectious disease