Regarding Prime Minister Suga's intention to consider issuing a state of emergency, some medical professionals are requesting that this change people's consciousness and lead to a decrease in the number of patients.
At Kyorin University Hospital in Mitaka City, Tokyo, which accepts inpatients with severe or moderate illness, the condition has been nearly full since November last year, and new patients were brought in during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Regarding Prime Minister Suga's intention to consider issuing a state of emergency, Professor Hiroshi Hasegawa of the Department of Emergency General Medicine said, "If a state of emergency is issued, the gathering of people will be suppressed, and at least an opportunity for a cluster to occur. It may be effective in reducing the number of patients. Since the medical field is in a very tight state, I would like many people to think about prevention of infection again. "
There are also expectations for a decrease in the number of infected people
Medical sites in Kanagawa Prefecture, where the number of infected people increased rapidly during the year-end and New Year holidays, expressed their expectations that the issuance of a declaration would lead to a decrease in the number of infected people.
Atsugi Municipal Hospital in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, has 18 beds that accept patients with adult infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus, but since the middle of last month, the number of inpatients has increased and the burden on the site has become heavier.
In particular, the number of patients increased rapidly during the year-end and New Year holidays, and during the two days of the 3rd and 2nd, the beds became tight until there was only one bed left.
In addition, as the number of elderly patients with severe symptoms requiring long-term care is increasing, more infection prevention is required, and a high degree of tension continues in the field.
Kami Miyagawa, a nurse in charge of infection management, said, "The situation is repeated in which inpatients come in as soon as the patient is discharged. Only during the year-end and New Year holidays, the situation is almost full and the site is tight. The entire hospital is understaffed and the staff is exhausted. "
On top of that, "If an emergency declaration is issued, it can be expected that many people will avoid eating and going out, the number of infected people will decrease, and the burden on the site will be eased. To prevent the spread of infection to the general public. I would like to ask for your cooperation. "