With the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the tightness of the beds is becoming more serious.
As of the 1st of this month, it has exceeded the most serious "Stage 4" indicators set by government subcommittees in four prefectures, including Hokkaido and Osaka.
Tokyo and Okinawa are also approaching stage 4 levels.
A government subcommittee classifies the infection status of the new coronavirus into four stages, of which the most serious stage 4 is said to be a risk of malfunction of the medical care provision system due to the explosive spread of infection.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as of the 1st of this month, the "maximum secured bed usage rate" was 65% in Hyogo prefecture, 51.6% in Hokkaido, and 50.1% in Mie prefecture, all exceeding 50% of the stage 4 index. I did.
The usage rate limited to critically ill patients is 57.1% in Osaka prefecture, which exceeds the stage 4 index (50%), 49.2% in Tokyo, and 49.1% in Okinawa prefecture, which is close to that level.
In "Stage 3", where the rapid increase in infections may seriously hinder the medical care provision system, 16 prefectures including Tokyo and Okinawa prefectures exceed the index due to the tightness of the beds.
Ibaraki prefecture, Tochigi prefecture, Gunma prefecture, Saitama prefecture, Chiba prefecture, Tokyo Metropolitan area, Kanagawa prefecture, Nagano prefecture, Gifu prefecture, Shizuoka prefecture, Aichi prefecture, Nara prefecture, Wakayama prefecture, which exceed the stage 3 index. Okayama prefecture, Ehime prefecture, Okinawa prefecture.
On the other hand, if we calculate only for beds that can be used immediately, the usage rate will increase further in some areas, and the actual situation seems to be more serious.
* "Severely ill patients" are based on national standards