Accepting 1200 people, including mildly ill patients Temporary facility development Nippon Foundation April 3, 19:30
With the spread of the new coronavirus, securing beds for patients to be hospitalized has become an issue. In preparation for a further increase in the number of patients, the Nippon Foundation has announced that it will provide temporary facilities for about 1200 people, including those with mild illness, from late this month and 10,000 people from July. did.
This was revealed by the Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa at a press conference.
According to this, the Nippon Foundation will set up a gymnasium called "Parina Arena" on the premises of the "Ship Science Museum" in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, owned by the group, where athletes aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics will practice, and parking lots The facility will provide more than 14,000 square meters, and will provide facilities for approximately 1200 people, including patients diagnosed as not requiring hospitalization by doctors.
Of these, nine large tents with air conditioning and heating will be installed in parking lots and other facilities, and doctors and nurses will be able to stay at the facility.
In the future, concrete management methods, such as securing doctors and nurses, will be decided in consultation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and we will begin accepting patients this month.
Furthermore, since July, the research site in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, will be equipped with facilities that can accommodate approximately 9,000 people, making it possible to accept a total of 10,000 people. We hope that the facilities will not be used, but it is important to prepare with a sense of speed. "
What is Para Arena?
The gymnasium of the Ship Science Museum, which is provided to secure beds for patients with the new coronavirus, is called the Para Arena, and is a facility where many athletes aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics practice.
The Para Arena, a gymnasium dedicated to para sports, responded to the demands of Paralympic sports groups who were struggling to secure a place to practice, and was used by athletes aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics at a facility opened by the Nippon Foundation. .
In particular, in wheelchair competitions, players who use wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball frequently use this facility, as falling down may damage the floor and refuse to use the general gymnasium. Was.
Showers and lockers are designed to be accessible to wheelchair athletes and those with disabilities in their hands and feet.They are designed to be barrier-free, and there are plenty of equipment for strength training. It was a base for practice.
As the new coronavirus infection continues to spread, it will be provided as a bed, so it is unclear when competition groups will be able to resume use, and many athletes based on this facility have to secure alternative training places. I was pressed.
Chairman of the organization that runs the project
Chairman Yasushi Yamawaki of the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center, which operates the gymnasium Para Arena dedicated to para sports, said, `` For athletes, this decision to temporarily close the para arena has enabled them to practice daily. I ’m sorry for the inconvenience and I ’m very sorry. ”
`` What is happening around the world is the danger of mankind far beyond sports, and it is the best way to stop the spread of the new coronavirus and protect people's lives. I think that is our priority, and we will work together to overcome this difficult time and restore a healthy, safe and secure society. "