Kagoshima Yoron Island Cluster on an island with a population of 5000 Corona continues to be tense Corona July 24, 20:12
In the remote island of Kagoshima, Yoron Island, a series of new coronavirus infections have been confirmed. Mayor Yoron issued an urgent message to strongly call for refraining from visiting from outside the island, and the Governor of Kagoshima also requested the SDF to dispatch disaster victims and continued to transfer infected people. A tense response continues.
Yoron Island is an island made of raised coral reef with a circumference of about 23 km and a population of more than 5,000, but 60,000 to 70,000 people visit each year as tourists.
In Yoron-cho, 23 people were confirmed infected within 3 days until the 24th.
Among the infected people, the infection of a woman in her 20s who works as a nurse at "Yoron Tokushukai Hospital", which is the only general hospital on the island, has also been revealed. The infection has spread to multiple acquaintances who have been diagnosed and patients in the ward where they work.
The prefecture is investigating that a cluster has occurred.
Governor Santanen of Kagoshima Prefecture announced on the 24th that he requested the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to dispatch a cluster countermeasure group.
Yoron Tokushukai Hospital continues to care for and treats patients after taking necessary measures such as disinfection in the hospital, but for the time being, outpatient services other than emergency cases are suspended and patients suspected of being infected. We are switching to the drive-through method for medical examinations.
Also, this hospital is not designated as an infectious disease designated medical institution, and only 4 beds can handle infected patients.
So far, of the 23 infected people on Yoron Island, 17 have been transferred to medical institutions on the mainland of the prefecture and Amami Oshima by using Japan Coast Guard and SDF aircraft.
Mayor Yamamoto of Yoron-cho issued an urgent message on the town's website.
The mayor of the mountains strongly urges people outside the island to refrain from visiting for the time being, as the medical system is vulnerable.
We also ask townspeople to refrain from going out, except for the minimum necessary activities such as medical examinations, work attendance, and shopping.
The mayor of the mountain responded to the interview with NHK, "It is very scary in view of the number of infected people on an island with a large population of about 5,000 people. We have always cherished the warm welcome of those who received it, but for now we would like you to put up with it in order to protect the lives of the islanders and visitors, and we will do our best to cooperate with related organizations to prevent the spread of infection. I want to go."