In Japan, in a society where the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is widespread, when a disaster occurs and a large number of people need to be relocated to evacuation centers, clusters of coronavirus disease may emerge; therefore, countermeasures are necessary. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the issues involved and the measures required to manage evacuation centers in the event of a disaster during the coronavirus disease pandemic. One of the researchers cooperated as an advisor in the preparation of the guidelines for the operation of evacuation centers and countermeasures against the coronavirus disease infection in the Shiga Prefecture and has participated as a lecturer in the evacuation center operation drills for the officials of the cities and towns in the prefecture since the planning stage. During the drills, hygiene products and equipment were set up; the participants were divided into two groups representing evacuees and staff and exchanged their opinions on various issues. As a result of the drills, it became clear that it is important to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases. Preparations include stockpiling supplies, training staff members in charge, and disseminating information to staff and residents. The importance of prioritizing the allocation of living spaces, while giving due consideration to human rights and collaborating with medical experts was also emphasized.

1. [1] K. Ueda, “The severity of influenza-related deaths in disaster-related deaths,” The J. of the Tokyo Institute for Municipal Research (Toshi Mondai), Vol.100, No.12, pp. 63-77, 2009 (in Japanese).
2. [2] K. Ariyoshi, M. Shibano, and S. Sasaki, “Recognition of local government staff about evacuation center operation manual,” Proc. of the Annual Conf. of the Institute of Social Safety Science, No.45, pp. 97-99, 2019 (in Japanese).
3. [3] S. Takaoka, “A handbook and a simplified version of the preparedness checklist for preventing infection at the opening of evacuation centers,” DRI Special Issue, No.1, April 2020 (in Japanese).
4. [4] Cabinet Office, “Reference material on the response to a new type of coronavirus infection in evacuation centers,” May 21, 2020 (in Japanese).
5. [5] Cabinet Office and Fire and Disaster Management Agency, “Cost of dealing with a new type of coronavirus infection in shelters,” May 27, 2020 (in Japanese).
6. [6] Shiga Prefectural Government, “Guidelines for the Operation of Evacuation Shelters for Countermeasures against the New Type of Coronavirus Disease in Shiga Prefecture Ver.1,” June 23, 2020 (in Japanese).
7. [7] J. Okada et al., ”Infection Precention Measures and Hygiene Precautions Among Evacuees in Emergency Shelters,” Japanese J. of Environmental Infections, Vol.29, No.6, pp. 437-443, 2014 (in Japanese).
8. [8] A. Kudou, S. Sakuma, K. Inatomi, M. Ikeda, and K. Nishina, “Local Government Awareness and Response to Infection Prevention in Natural Disasters,” Japanese J. of Environmental Infections, Vol.27, No.3, pp. 171-177, 2012 (in Japanese).
9. [9] Cabinet Office, “Guidelines for Opening and Operating Evacuation Shelters with Consideration for Countermeasures against Infectious Diseases of New Coronaviruses (Second Edition),” September 2020 (in Japanese).
10. [10] Cabinet Office, “Questions and Answers on Response to Novel Coronavirus Infections in Evacuation Centers (Second Edition),” July 2020 (in Japanese).
11. [11] Survey Research Center Co.,Ltd., “Third Questionnaire on New Coronavirus Infections,” https://www.surece.co.jp/wp_surece/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200609.pdf [accessed November 20, 2020]
12. [12] “The Sphere Handbook,” https://handbook.spherestandards.org/ja/sphere/ [accessed October 20, 2020]
13. [13] “Applying humanitarian standards to fight COVID-19,” https://spherestandards.org/coronavirus/ [accessed October 20, 2020]
14. [14] Cabinet Office, “Guidelines for Evacuation Center Operations,” April 2016 (in Japanese).
15. [15] O. Kunii, “Public Health in Disasters – What We Can Do,” pp. 87-108, Nanzando, 2012 (in Japanese).