- SACLA User Information - http://sacla.xfel.jp -

About responding to COVID-19 Infection

SPring-8/SACLA Users Office,
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)

At SPring-8/SACLA, measures to prevent new coronavirus infections are implemented.
Please check the following details when visiting.

ATTENTION on Novel Coronavirus (Updated on 16th June)

Dear All users visiting SPring-8 for experiments,

According to the World Health Organization’s Emergency Declaration on the new coronavirus outbreak, a new cabinet order has been put in force by the Japanese government since 1st Feb. 2020 and pneumonia arising from the new coronavirus will be treated as “Designated Infectious Disease”/” Quarantinable Infectious Diseases”.
We, therefore, strongly ask all users to examine the recent physical conditions before your visit to SPring-8/SACLA. Please note that we may ask your recent travel history upon your arrival.
Thank you for your understandings and cooperation.

Additional Announcement on Measures for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Updated on 5th June)

Additional Announcement on Measures for2019 Novel Coronavirus(COVID-19)

  1. Please contact SPring-8/SACLA Users Office at least one day before your designated beamtime, if you decide to cancel your beamtime. There will be no cancellation charge. We kindly ask you to make your decision after considering your affiliation’s policy and measures.
  2. We strongly ask you to bring masks and wear it during your stay at SACLA. We also recommend hand-washing and hand disinfection with alcohol sanitizer. Alcohol sanitizers are available at entrances of SACLA Experimental Facility, North Building, Cafeteria, SPring-8 Guesthouse, and so on.
  3. Please consider to conduct your experiment with minimum number of participants required, ask BL scientists for available spaces and keep social distance during the experiment. Please avoid staying longer than necessary in Sample Preparation Room/Experiment Preparation Room.
  4. Please note that there will be possibility that User Support from BL scientists will be limited in order to prevent infections with users.
  5. Please refer to our previous announcement and contact us immediately if you feel fever or any respiratory symptoms such as coughs after your arrival to SACLA.
  6. We strongly ask you to make sure to take all experimental equipment, samples and wastes with you when you leave SACLA. If you have any inquires or concern, please contact SPring-8/SACLA Users Office.

About responding to 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Updated on 16th June)

About responding to 2019 Novel Coronavirus

  1. Please refrain from visiting SPring-8/SACLA, if you have a fever or any respiratory symptoms, and have any possibility of infection with Novel Coronavirus.
  2. Please come to SPring-8/SACLA with minimum number of participants for your experiments, and refrain from visiting with large group.
    Please consider having web meetings with your project team members inside and outside SPring-8/SACLA via eduroam or SP8-GUEST Wireless LAN (for more details, click here) as needed during your experiments.
  3. Please wash your hands with a soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer regularly and try to cover your mouth by wearing mask or other means when you cough.
  4. Please contact the below, if fever or any respiratory symptoms such as coughs after your arrival to SPring-8/SACLA.

    • Office Hours(9:00‒17:30) Health Office: Ext. 3299, Users Office: Ext. 2225
    • Out of Office Hours(0:00-9:00, 17:30-24:00) Guest House Front Desk: Ext. 8181
    • We will guide you to the designated waiting rooms available in the North Building, Main Building or Guest House.
    • Please fill in the medical questionnaire sheet for Novel Coronavirus at the waiting room.
  5. Please rest yourself in Guest House, when you cannot depart from SPring-8/SACLA immediately. We inform you a consultation counter for Novel Coronavirus or a hospital where you can get appropriate medical care.
  6. Please stay inside your room in the Guest House and refrain from visiting other facilities such as Experimental Hall, Cafeteria, etc., if you have a fever or any respiratory symptoms.
  7. Please wear a mask if at all possible, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers available at several stations inside the campus during your stay at SPring-8/SACLA.
  8. Please note that you shall be responsible for the expenses, incl. Guest House fee and medical examination, when any extra expenses occur relating to this matter.
  9. Please contact Users Office immediately, if you are confirmed to be infected with Novel Coronavirus after your departure from SPring-8/SACLA. And please cooperate with our survey.

(Reference)

Use of online meeting tools during experiments (26th June)

Constraints associated with COVID-19 are expected in conducting users’ experiments to ensure the health and safety of visitors and SPring-8/SACLA staff.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, users are requested to minimize the number of on-site participants for carrying out their experiments. For example, the use of online meeting tools is strongly recommended for discussion with collaborators off-site. The wireless LAN at the Experimental Building and the Guest House can be used for common meeting tools.
 

The wireless LAN:

eduroam or SP8-GUEST Wireless LAN, for more details, click here
 

Prevention measures against COVID-19 at SPring-8/SACLA (16th June)

1. Mitigation Measures for Infection Risk

  1. 1) Use of facemasks by staff
    Staff are wearing facemasks in consideration of the health of both users and staff.
  2. 2) Alcohol sanitizer
    Alcohol sanitizers are available throughout the facilities used by visitors (e.g. the entrance of SACLA Experimental Facility).
  3. 3) Plastic sheets to prevent droplet infection
    Plastic sheets and boards are installed in front of the Users Office (North Building) to prevent droplet infection in consideration of the health of both users and staff.
  4. 4) Thermography
    Thermography devices are installed in front of the Users Office and the Guest House Front Desk in order to measure body temperature of visitors.
  5. 5) Strict guidelines for standard precautions for staff
    Staff follow strict guidelines for physical condition management, including temperature checks, frequent hand-washing, gargling, and hand-sanitizing.

2. Avoid the “Three Cs”

  1. 1) Avoid “Crowded places with many people nearby”
    In an effort to avoid “Crowded places”, there is a possibility that user support from beamline scientists maybe limited.
  2. 2) Avoid “Close-contact settings such as close-range conversations”
    In an effort to avoid “Close-contact settings”, staff keep social distance sufficiently.
  3. 3) Avoid “Closed spaces with poor ventilation”
    Facilities and buildings are ventilated sufficiently.

3. Strict Cleaning and Disinfectants

  1. Disinfectants are regularly used during cleaning, especially in locations frequented by large numbers of people (e.g. for doorknobs).

Past Information

Confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19 after leaving SPring-8
Resumption of User Operation at SPring-8/SACLA (Updated on 19th June)
Rescheduling of SACLA 2020A and Cancellation of Call for 2020B Proposals (Updated on 3rd July)
Suspension of User Operations at SPring-8/SACLA (Updated on 1st May)