Beds of patients with the new coronavirus are tight in various places, and the usage rate exceeds 50%, which is the standard of "level to strengthen measures" indicated by the government subcommittee in 22 prefectures nationwide.


The background seems to be an increase in the number of elderly inpatients and prolonged hospitalization, and the issue is how to secure a transfer destination after the symptoms have improved.

A government subcommittee classifies the infection status of the new coronavirus into five levels and shows the required measures.



According to the Cabinet Secretariat's summary, the bed usage rate for patients with the new corona exceeded 50% in 22 prefectures nationwide as of 21st of this month, which is the second most serious "level for strengthening measures". It exceeds 50% of.



The highest usage rate was


▽ Fukuoka prefecture 84%,


followed by


▽ Osaka prefecture 81%,


▽ Hyogo prefecture 76%,


▽ Kyoto prefecture 72%,


▽ Kanagawa prefecture and Shiga prefecture, Nara prefecture 71%, etc. It has become.



According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of elderly inpatients is increasing nationwide, and in Tokyo, where the age of inpatients is announced, 70% of inpatients are in their 60s or older as of 16th of this month.



The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been working to secure a logistical support hospital to which patients with improved symptoms will be transferred to prevent the sickbed from becoming tight.



However, at logistical support hospitals, etc., it is not possible to take care of the elderly or treat chronic diseases, or the beds are already filled with general patients, so the transfer of hospitals does not proceed as expected, and hospitalization is prolonged. It means that there are a lot of cases.



In response to this situation, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided last week to pay 4.5 million yen per bed to medical institutions that have newly secured beds for patients with calm symptoms.

Prolonged hospitalization for elderly people requiring long-term care may lead to tight beds

At hospitals in Kanagawa Prefecture that accept emergency patients with the new coronavirus, most of the patients are elderly people who need long-term care, and it is difficult to transfer or leave the hospital, and hospitalization tends to be prolonged.



In Kanagawa Prefecture, the bed usage rate of patients with the new corona is about 70% as of the 23rd, and according to the prefecture, most of the patients are in their 60s or older.



Of these, at Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital in Kawasaki City, which mainly accepts moderately and mildly ill patients who have been transported by emergency, 32 of the 34 corona beds that have been secured since the middle of last month are always filled. I am.



Most of the inpatients are elderly, and many of them need assistance in daily life such as meals and toilets.



For these patients, even if their symptoms subside and treatment for the new corona is no longer necessary, it is not easy to find a transfer destination or discharge destination, and hospitalization tends to be prolonged, so many patients take about 15 days to be discharged. It depends.



On the 24th, two nurses were busy changing the patient's diapers, assisting with meals, and wiping their bodies.



The government is encouraging patients who do not need oxygen administration after the 4th day of admission to switch to medical treatment at home etc. while watching the progress of symptoms, but such operation is not easy in hospitals. ..



Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital Director Jinichi Sasanuma said, "Patients in need of long-term care take time to adjust their discharge and continue to be unable to accept new patients. Infected persons waiting for hospitalization in the emergency outpatient department. It's a situation where we can't see the end. "