As of March 13, there are 1,422 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Japan including the infected passengers and ship crew of the Diamond Princess. Due to widespread infections, supplies of surgical masks have been running low since February. The supply shortage has not resolved yet in March and medical facilities and welfare centers across Japan are now facing a severe shortage of masks.

Since February, Airborne Rescue and Relief Operations With Search (ARROWS), comprised of A-PAD Japan and other organizations, has distributed 360,000 medical masks to over 350 medical facilities, welfare centers, nurseries, and after school day care centers across Japan.  Those masks had been stored in a warehouse in case of emergencies.

On March 5, ARROWS leased a trailer office to a hospital in Osaka. The trailer will be used as a waiting and consultation room for a fever clinic installed outside of the hospital. This trailer office was utilized during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the West Japan floods in 2018 as a meeting place and temporary medical office.

On March 13, ARROWS leased and installed an air tent at Hiroshima Kyoritsu Hospital. ARROWS has an MoU with the hospital for disaster assistance. The tent was set up next to the hospital entrance and will be used as a triage post to screen all incoming patients starting on March 16.