As Japan looks into reopening its borders for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has launched a multilingual Covid-19 helpline.
As reported by Japan Today, the helpline operates in seven different languages: English, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. The same helpline was initially launched in Japanese in early January.
Calls to the helpline will be initially answered by Japanese speaking staff, and interpreters are ready to jump in if necessary. Thai interpreters are available from 9am to 6pm daily, Vietnamese interpreters from 10am and 7pm daily, while all other languages are available from 9am to 9pm daily.
This is the second multilingual Covid-19 phone info service launched by the ministry. But while the first was an interpretation hotline for patients currently being tested for coronavirus, this one is designed to provide more general information on symptoms and how to get tested.
Available beginning today, the helpline is toll-free within Japan and the number to dial is 01 2056 5653.
For more information on how to get help in Tokyo during the coronavirus pandemic, visit here.
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