NOTE: Information found in this article is current as of July 26th, 2020, and covers coronavirus-related hotlines set up by municipalities in The Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa). Information may be modified as necessary.
*To read more on TOCOS (Tokyo Coronavirus Support Center for Foreign Residents), a call center set up by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on April 17th, 2020, check the sidebar found on the main page (desktop version only).
Each municipality in the Greater Tokyo area (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa) offers hotlines for COVID-19.
You can call the hotlines if you are feeling unwell or if you are worried about the virus. However, please note that most services are only available in Japanese. You may need the help of a Japanese speaker when you make a call.
Before Calling the Hotlines/Going to hospitals…
When you have any cold-like symptoms such as fever, you should:
- refrain from going to school or to work. Stay at home.
- take your temperature every day.
Follow the above, then answer this self-check:
Q1. Where do you live?
If you live in Chiba (千葉県), please proceed to (A). If not, please answer Q2.
Q2. Do you have a family doctor (かかりつけ医: Kakaritsuke-i) ?
If yes, please proceed to (B). If not, please refer to (A).
(A) Calling Hotlines
1.
UPDATE 5/11: Modifications on criteria for when to call
Please call a hotline straight away if 1) you have obvious and strong symptoms (ex. difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, high fever) or 2) you are at a higher risk for severe illness (ex. the elderly, people with chronic illnesses) and have mild symptoms of cold such as cough and moderate fever. Pregnant women should also call a hotline without delay.
Even if the above criteria do not apply to you, you should call a hotline if you have had persistent symptoms such as cough and moderate fever; make sure to call a hotline if you experience symptoms for 4 or more days.
*Only Japanese-speaking operators are available unless stated otherwise
*Lines may be busy at night and on weekends.
| Area | Venue/Service | Hours | Phone number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (東京都) |
Public Health Center (保健所; hoken-jo) in each municipality |
9AM-5PM (Weekdays) |
See this list for contact information on Public Health Centers |
| Hotline for Residents in Tokyo |
5PM-9AM (Weekdays) 24 hours |
03-5320-4592 | |
| Saitama (埼玉県) |
Public Health Center (保健所) in each municipality |
8:30AM-5:15PM (Weekdays) |
See this list for contact information on Public Health Centers |
| Novel Coronavirus Call Center for Residents (set up by the prefecture) |
Call here when Public Health Centers are closed (Available 24/7) |
0570-783-770 | |
| Chiba (千葉県) |
Public Health Center (保健所) in each municipality |
9AM-5PM (Weekdays) (Some centers are open longer) |
See this list for contact information on Public Health Centers |
| Call Center (set up by the prefecture) | Call here when Public Health Centers are closed (Available 24/7) |
0570-200-613 | |
| Kanagawa (神奈川県) |
Public Health Center (保健所) in Yokohama (横浜市), Kawasaki (川崎市), Sagamihara (相模原市), Yokosuka (横須賀市), Fujisawa (藤沢市), Chigasaki (茅ヶ崎市) and Samukawa (寒川町) |
Opening hours vary. Please see the list on the right. | See this list for contact information on Public Health Centers. |
| (For residents living in municipalities other than those cited above) Hotline established by the prefecture |
Available 24/7 | 045-285-1015 |
2.
If you have slight fever or cough / feel anxious about being infected with COVID-19, please call the following numbers.
*Japanese only, with the exception of services in Tokyo, AMDA, and Japan Tourism Agency.
| Area/Provider | Venue/Service | Hours | Phone number | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (東京都) |
Novel Coronavirus Call Center | 9AM-10PM (Every day) |
0570-550571 | Japanese English Chinese Korean |
| Medical Institution Information Service”Himaw-ari”(ひまわり) | 9AM-8PM (Every day) |
03-5285-8181 | English Chinese Korean Spanish Thai |
|
| AMDA | Multilingual Phone Consultation Service | (Update: 5/24) Weekdays 10AM-4PM | 03-6233-9266 | English (every day) Chinese (Tue.&Thu.) Korean (Mon.) Thai (Tue.) Tagalog (Mon.) Spanish (Wed.) Portuguese (Fri.) Vietnamese (2nd & 4th Wed.) |
| Japan Tourism Agency | Japan Visitor Hotline | 24/7 (Including holidays) |
050-3816-2787 | Japanese English Chinese Korean |
| Saitama (埼玉県) |
Novel Coronavirus Call Center for Residents | 24/7 (Including holidays) |
0570-783-770 | Japanese |
| Chiba(千葉県) | Chiba Call Center | 24/7 (Including holidays) |
0570-200-613 | Japanese |
| Kanagawa (神奈川県) |
COVID-19 Hotline | 9AM-9PM (Every day) |
045-285-0536 050-1744-5875
045-550-5530 |
Japanese |
Depending on your situation, operators may ask you to call other numbers such as Public Health Centers shown in (1).
*If you contact “Himawari (ひまわり),” the operator can call a Public Health Center for you if necessary.
*(Update: 5/24) AMDA’s multilingual phone consultation was initially a time-limited service until May 20. However, they announced that they will continue their support on COVID-19 after this date.
Go to a hospital
When you call a Public Health Center, the operator will give you instructions on whether you should go to a hospital, and if so, which one you should go to.
When you go to a hospital, please wear a mask and avoid using public transport.
(B) Consult your family doctor (Kakaritsuke-i)
First, you should call your family doctor. He/she will ask you about your symptoms on the phone. If necessary, you will be asked to go see the doctor in person for further examination, and you will be given instructions on what measures to take.
NOTE: If there is no local PCR test center in your municipality, your family doctor may ask you to call a Public Health Center. Please ask your doctor for details.