July 10:

Thank you for your cooperation in preventing SARS during IUGG.
WHO announced on July 5 the removal of Taiwan from the list of SARS transmission areas leaving no more areas. We have been asking you to fill in our questionnaire, although the 10-day rule no longer applies. This is because there are SARS cases existing in quarantine zones. Thank you for your understanding.

June 19:

As of June 18, WHO recognizes Toronto, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as Areas of Recent Local Transmission of SARS. When you arrive in Sapporo (you can enter Japan unless you show SARS symptoms already), the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will ask you to cooperate with us to do the following BEFORE getting your IUGG name badges.

1. Please EVERYONE make sure you have followed our "10-day policy" (see previous updates starting from May 9). We will confirm this on site. IF you have been in any of these WHO designated areas over the last 10 days, but carefully avoided official quarantine areas (which we asked to confirm by a document (June 10)), we would like to ask you further to tell us where you will be staying during the IUGG General Assembly.
2. If, unfortunately, you could not follow our "10-day" policy, we cannot issue you the IUGG name badge, until this policy is followed.
3. If you are from these transmission areas and have fever or any potential signs of SARS, you must see the doctor through LOC. Further notices will be posted on site.
4. Please feel free to contact us regarding SARS related questions (suyehiro@jamstec.go.jp).

June 10: We provide here a detailed explanation regarding our policy for preventing SARS during IUGG General Assembly in Sapporo. We believe that careful precautionary measures with the correct knowledge of the epidemic will assure SARS-free GA. Japan has been keeping its SARS-free status. First of all, there will be no visa restrictions unless you are already a confirmed SARS carrier. We are providing visa formalities without discrimination. As of today, Toronto, and some areas in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are listed as areas with recent local transmission by World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/csr/sars/areas/2003_06_09/en/; Numerals show the date.). If you are not from any of these areas, you need not worry. We ask those participants from these areas to make sure before you arrive in Sapporo that you are free of SARS virus (10 days maximum incubation period) by staying away from these areas for 10 days and proving for yourself that you do not show any symptoms of SARS (see May 9 notice). We received many questions regarding the definition of the "area". We interpret the area as those areas where the local Health Authorities have designated as quarantine areas. In order to confirm that you have not visited any of the quarantine zones within 10 days before your departure, we reserve the right to ask you to show us a document stating you certainly have followed our policy. Your Health Authority may not be able to issue such a document. We ask that the statement to be signed by your doctor, your superior in your institute, or someone of equivalent authority. We have been following WHO updates and observing the decline of SARS. In order to keep the IUGG venue safe, we ask each participant to be conscious of one's health condition. Should you show any SARS symptoms, you are requested to contact us (as posted) and not enter the meeting buildings before getting health checks at authorized hospitals. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

May 28: For those registrants from SARS infected areas (not countries) as recognized by WHO (http://www.who.int/csr/sars/areas) wishing to cancel their registrations, we will fully reimburse the paid amount. Please note that the list of areas is updated daily and that the situation is improving.

May 22: Areas with recent local transmission of SARS: The IUGG LOC refers to these areas as designated, and updated, by World Health Organization (see http://www.who.int/csr/sars/areas). Note that these areas are not countries, but cities or provinces.

May 22: Cancellation of IUGG participation due to SARS: The May 9 notice states "To enter Japan, persons should not show the symptoms of SARS (high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties) or should not have been in one of the WHO designated SARS-infected areas within the past 10 days". This procedure follows the guideline set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The designated areas vary with time, so please check the WHO website to make sure whether the notice applies to you or not. LOC will not apply the normal cancellation policy for those from infected areas for reimbursement of the registration fees. LOC will only ask for a minimal charge for handling reimbursements. Also, LOC will not set a deadline for your decision as the situation may change in a month's time. Once decided, however, we appreciate your prompt notification for program update.