COVID-19 risks
Oct. 19, 2022, midnight
In light of the general improvement in the global infection situation and the fact that the G7 countries have already canceled the designation of levels by country and region, all the new coronavirus infectious disease risk information was issued on October 19. The world is uniformly set to level 1 (please be careful).
Aug. 24, 2022, midnight
On August 24, the infectious disease risk information for 41 countries was changed from level 3 (recommendation to avoid travel) to level 2 (please refrain from non-essential travel), and the infectious disease risk information for 55 countries/regions was changed to level 2. The level has been lowered from (Please refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent travel) to Level 1 (Please be careful).
July 25, 2022, midnight
On July 23, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak of monkeypox a "public health emergency of international concern." According to the WHO, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox infection in 75 countries and regions have been reported so far, and the infection is spreading worldwide.
July 1, 2022, midnight
Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the risk of death and aggravation has decreased, and deregulation at the water's edge and in Japan has also been seen, especially in countries where vaccination is progressing worldwide. I'm on the way. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.
May 26, 2022, midnight
Although the infection status of the new corona varies depending on the situation in each country and region, the number of new infections and deaths is declining worldwide, and the risk of death and aggravation is mainly in countries where vaccination is progressing. Is declining, and regulations are being relaxed at the water's edge and in Japan. Based on these trends, the infectious disease risk information level is now available after comprehensively considering the actual conditions of each country / region, such as the status of infection, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures in each country / region. Was reviewed.
April 1, 2022, midnight
The level of infectious disease risk information should be reviewed after comprehensively considering the actual situation of each country / region, such as the number of newly infected people in each country / region, vaccination status, infectious disease control / medical system, and status of various measures. It was made. As a result, infectious disease risk information has been reduced from Level 3 "Recommendation for suspension of travel" to Level 2 "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" in 106 countries.
Nov. 29, 2021, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please be informed and try to prevent the infection.
Aug. 13, 2021, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.
May 18, 2021, midnight
Coronavirus infections are still spreading worldwide, with more than 160 million confirmed infections and more than 3 million deaths worldwide. Although the number of infected people is decreasing in North America and Europe, the situation continues to require caution, such as the remarkable spread of infection in South Asia.
Based on this situation, the infectious disease risk information level in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Saint Lucia, Thailand, East Timor, and Mongolia has been newly set to Level 2 by comprehensively considering various situations including the deterioration of the infection situation. "Please stop unnecessary and unurgent travel" has been raised to Level 3 "Travel Cancellation Recommendation".
Oct. 30, 2020, midnight
As the infection may spread further, please obtain the latest information and try to prevent the infection.
Local and national news
Information for the past 30 days.
[Wide Area Information] Warning about illegal part-time work overseas by criminal organizations, including the Anonymous Mobile Crime Group (Tokuryu) (How to avoid becoming a perpetrator)
Dec. 16, 2025, midnight wide area information
There have been a number of cases where people have applied for illegal part-time work overseas and ended up being forced to act as "callers" for criminal organizations and participate in special fraud overseas, or where people have unintentionally become complicit in crimes by couriering illegal drugs (such as marijuana), and ended up being detained or protected by local police.
●If you feel that you have applied for an illegal part-time job overseas, do not worry or keep it to yourself, but seek help from a family member or someone close to you, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the police, etc.
●If you feel that as a result of applying for an illegal part-time job overseas, you have become (or been forced to become) complicit in a crime such as specialized fraud or illegal drug smuggling, please do not hesitate to contact or consult with the local Japanese embassy or consulate general.
Warning about special fraud (to avoid becoming a victim)
Dec. 16, 2025, midnight wide area information
● Special fraud, in which money is defrauded by contacting people without meeting them in person, is also occurring overseas. There have been confirmed cases in which people have impersonated Japanese government officials, such as Japanese embassy staff, Japanese consulate staff, Japanese police officers, and customs officials.
●Japanese public institutions such as the Japanese Embassy, Japanese Consulate General, police officers, and customs officials will never request remittances without following proper procedures. Please take precautions such as not easily responding to suspicious phone calls, emails, social media messages, etc. that you do not recognize.
●If you feel even slightly uneasy while outside of Japan, please consult your nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General.
Alert regarding chikungunya fever
Nov. 21, 2025, midnight Wide area information (infectious diseases)
● Chikungunya fever, which causes symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and rash, is prevalent in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.
● Chikungunya fever is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the chikungunya virus, so in the above areas please be sure to take the preventive measures described below in 1(4), such as wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent spray.
● If you suspect you may be infected, please visit a medical institution as soon as possible.
Zika virus infection alert (updated)
Nov. 21, 2025, midnight Wide area information (infectious diseases)
● The number of cases of Zika virus infection, which causes symptoms such as fever and rash and can result in congenital disorders such as microcephaly in fetuses, has decreased globally since 2017, but infections continue to occur, albeit in small numbers, in Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
● Zika virus infection is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus, so if you are in the above areas, please be sure to take the preventive measures listed below in 1(4), such as wearing long sleeves and using insect repellent spray.
● If you suspect you may be infected, please visit a medical institution as soon as possible.
Travel advisories from local embassies and consulates
Information from the past two weeks.
Caution: Flood damage caused by heavy rain
Dec. 15, 2025, 1:50 a.m.
The rain that began on the night of December 12th caused the Piray River to overflow in the city of El Torno (southwest of Santa Cruz, on the way to Samaipata, where a mudslide recently occurred), causing extensive damage, including the collapse of two bridges connecting settlements in the Espejo district. As of the 14th, at least seven people have been confirmed dead and 20 are still missing, and the search for the missing is ongoing.
In addition, in the city of Colpa Belgica (where a part of a bridge collapsed recently), the rising water level has caused a bridge to completely collapse, isolating the village.
In addition, in the cities of Warnes and Montero, nearby residents have been forced to evacuate due to the flooding of the Piray River.
In the city of Santa Cruz, water levels reached 4.5m at one point in the area connecting Santa Cruz and Urbo districts, and flooding occurred in various parts of the city, with three deaths confirmed.
Serious impacts have also been felt in the lower reaches of the Pillai River, and a red alert was issued in Santa Cruz province on the 13th.
In response to this emergency, the Bolivian government and the Santa Cruz departmental government have set up an emergency response headquarters, and rescue teams have been dispatched to El Torno and Colpa Belgica.
On the morning of the 14th, Governor Camacho inspected the damage caused by El Torno and announced that 11 communities in the prefecture had been severely affected. President Paz is also scheduled to visit the area.
Depending on future rainfall, there is a risk of landslides and other damage occurring again between Santa Cruz and Chabamba, so please keep an eye on the latest information and take extra care when traveling within the city and in mountainous areas during rainfall.
Also, please avoid areas surrounding rivers.
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Consular Office of Japan in Santa Cruz
Calle Saavedra No.314, Esq.Calle Cochabamba,
Santa Cruz - Bolivia
Tel: +591-3335-1268, 3333-1329
Fax: +591-3335-1022
e-mail: consuladojaponscz@lz.mofa.go.jp
