The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) issued an urgent notice nationwide on the 8th calling for infection control during chorus while the infection of students who participated in chorus practice and competitions was confirmed one after another at junior high schools in Saitama and Hyogo prefectures. It was issued to the Board of Education.
Regarding chorus, 36 students were confirmed to be infected at a junior high school in Saitama prefecture by the 8th, and the infection route is being investigated because it is possible that the infection spread during chorus practice. Outbreaks have also occurred in junior high schools in Hyogo prefecture by students who participated in the chorus contest.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology issued an urgent notice to the Board of Education nationwide on the 8th requesting measures against infection when chorusing in school classes and club activities.
As a concrete measure in the notification, in principle, wear a mask, leave a space of 2 meters as much as possible, and avoid mixing standing and sitting children to prevent splashing on the face. We want to keep the continuous practice time as short as possible and keep ventilation at all times.
In addition, long-term, short-distance, face-to-face group work in each subject, and playing recorders and keyboard harmonica in music should be done carefully and temporarily refrained if the local infection is widespread. I want you to consider it.
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Hagiuda said, "It is desirable to take various measures while giving consideration to infection prevention as much as possible. Chorus contests with a uniform risk of infection should be canceled all over the country. I don't mean to tell you that, but I want you to be careful. "