University of Toyama is conducting a Summer Mountain Clinic on Mt. Sugoroku, which is located in the center of Japan Alps (ca 2,600m above sea level), as volunteers between July 25 and August 26 in every summer.
As with last year, the main theme of this year’s operation was infection control for the new coronavirus. As in the previous year, only volunteers from the medical staff entered the mountain because the activities of the mountain club students have been suspended. We have set up a system that is quite different from previous years, including the preparation of various new protective medical equipment.
Prof. Kuroda, who has been the director of the clinic for the past eight years, has been in charge of the clinic on the mountain from July 21 to 26 to serve the climbers who enjoyed four special holidays in July. Unlike last year, when the number of climbers drastically decreased, this year the number of climbers seems to be recovering somewhat. Mountain huts were also taking various efforts to prevent infection, more than what they did last year. In addition, due to the extremely hot weather since the end of the rainy season this year, I have the impression that many people are suffering from heat exhaustion and insect bites.
　In every year, this clinic is supported by the understanding and cooperation of many hospitals, staff members and members of the Gifu Prefectural Police, both in and out of Toyama prefecture. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their continuous supports.