“It will endanger the island’s existence.” Kudaka Island, Island of the Gods, Asks Visitors to Stay Away Minami-Daito Does the Same Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus

“It will endanger the island’s existence.” Kudaka Island, Island of the Gods, Asks Visitors to Stay Away Minami-Daito Does the Same Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus

Many tourists visit Kudaka Island to see what Okinawa looked like long ago (Nanjo)


April 8, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Nanjo – On April 7, due to the spread of novel coronavirus, representatives of Kudaka Island, Nanjo asked tourists to refrain from visiting the island. Nagayasu Hokama, head of Kudaka Ward, says that while the request is not intended to regulate entry to the island, “we have many elderly residents and we do not have a robust medical system.” He adds, “if a case of the virus is confirmed on the island, it will endanger the island’s existence. We ask that people refrain from visiting.”

 

The request will be in effect from April 8 through April 30, but may be changed depending on the situation.

 

If there is a change, it will be reported on Kudaka Island’s website, “Kudaka no shima jikan (Kudaka Island Time),” which can be accessed at  https://kudaka-island.com/

 

Minami-Daito Request to Tourism Association: Refrain from Visiting

By Yoko Ikeda

 

Minami-Daito – On April 6, the Minami-Daito Novel Coronavirus Task Force (led by Mayor Kensho Nakada) held its third meeting at the village hall. With infections spreading domestically and internationally, the Task Force requested that tourists as well as business travelers on non-essential, non-urgent business refrain from visiting the island. These requests were made to the Village Tourism Association and the Village Commerce and Industry Association respectively. Hotels and other lodgings are moving toward not accepting reservations through the end of April.

 

Minami-Daito is a remote and isolated island with limited medical resources, unable to conduct PCR tests. Thus, if infections spread, the medical system could collapse. This possibility increases the sense of urgency. The Task Force asks residents to prevent the spread of the disease by wearing masks, washing their hands, and avoiding the 3 C’s: closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Ellen Huntley)

 

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