When infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed, it was judged that hospitalization was not necessary, and many people were receiving medical treatment at home, and suddenly their symptoms worsened and they died.



When NHK interviewed local governments in the Kanto region, it was found that seven people died during home medical treatment in the four prefectures of Tokyo, Tochigi, Kanagawa, and Gunma since December.

When NHK interviewed local governments in 1 metropolitan area and 6 prefectures in the Kanto region, the number of people who died after being infected with the new coronavirus due to worsening symptoms during home medical treatment was after December, 3 in Tokyo and 2 in Tochigi. There is one person in Kanagawa and Gunma prefectures.

A man in his 80s who died during home medical treatment in Tokyo

Regarding the case of a man in his 80s who was infected with the new coronavirus and died during home medical treatment without finding a hospital, the Tokyo standard for determining hospitalization is that he is 70 years old or older, so in principle he will be hospitalized. However, as the number of patients increased and the bed became tighter, the symptoms were relatively mild at the beginning, so he explained that he was treated at home.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, it was confirmed that a man in his 80s in Tokyo who had diabetes was infected with the new coronavirus on the 7th of this month.


I had a coughing symptom, and when I was tested at a medical institution, it turned out to be positive.



According to the Tokyo standard "hospitalization decision flow" for judging hospitalization, in principle, elderly people aged 70 and over who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill are hospitalized.


However, according to the city, although this man is over 70 years old, his symptoms were relatively mild at the beginning, and as the number of patients increased and the bed became tight, the health center responded with home medical treatment and observed his health. It means that I decided.

On the morning of the next day, on the morning of the 8th, I got a fever of 37 degrees and I was contacted by a family member living with me that my symptoms had worsened, so the health center and the hospitalization coordination headquarters of the city contacted and adjusted, but it is acceptable No medical institution was found.



When the health center explained this situation to his family, he said that his symptoms had improved compared to the morning, so he decided to take a look at his home recuperation.

On the 9th and 10th, I was receiving medical treatment at home without adjusting the hospitalization, but on the morning of the 11th, when the man was trying to become conscious and his symptoms were getting worse, his family contacted the city and carried him out as an emergency. However, he died.



The capital said, "The hospitalization decision flow is just a guide, and the health center made a decision according to the patient's symptoms in a severe infection situation where the bed is tight. However, if you can be hospitalized properly, this situation will occur. It may not have been, and we will make adjustments so that high-risk people can be hospitalized in the future. "

Deteriorated and died during home medical treatment to 3 people in Tokyo

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, it has been confirmed that the new coronavirus infection has occurred in Tokyo, and it was men in their 80s, women in their 50s, and men in their 60s who died due to deterioration of their condition during home medical treatment. is.



A woman in her 50s had symptoms such as fever and sore throat and was tested positive on the 6th of this month.


Women have an underlying illness of hypertension, but the health center decided that it was "less urgent to be hospitalized" based on the standards of the city, saying that it would be stabilized by taking medicine, and it was decided to take medical treatment at home.


However, on the morning of the next day, the woman collapsed and was taken to the emergency room, but died.



A man in his 60s had symptoms such as fever and coughing, and was tested positive on December 19, last year, and was treated at home because he had no underlying illness.


The health center conducted regular health observations, and on the 28th, the fever had dropped and it was improving.


However, on the following day, the 29th, a family member who visited him at home found him lying down and took him to the emergency room, but he died.


The health center was planning to contact him on the 30th, the day after the man died, and cancel his home care if he had no symptoms.



A man's son told NHK, "When I contacted him two days before he died, he said,'I'm getting better and my fever is getting lower, but if I move a little, I'm suffocating.'" I didn't think I would die, and I realized that the new coronavirus was more scary than I had imagined. My father was surprised at the fact that he had taken the most infection control measures in his family, such as refraining from going out and wearing a mask. I'm worried that while many people are being treated at home, the number of people who will suddenly get sick like my father will increase in the future. "

Deteriorated and died during home recuperation Tochigi Kanagawa Gunma

When the infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed, it was judged that hospitalization was not necessary, and those who were receiving medical treatment at home and suddenly worsened their symptoms and died were interviewed by NHK in the Kanto region. Since December last year, there have been four people in Tokyo, Tochigi, Kanagawa, and Gunma prefectures.



Of these, in Kanagawa Prefecture, a man in his 60s in Yokohama, who was infected and was being treated at home, died on the 6th of this month.


This man, who lives alone, was hospitalized because he was infected on the 3rd of this month and was old and had symptoms of pneumonia, but the health center in Yokohama City was in good physical condition and had his own wishes. Since then, I have been receiving medical treatment at home.



The oxygen concentration in the blood of men was low, but the person in charge of health management in the prefecture was able to measure accurately because he was able to talk without complaining of symptoms such as breathlessness. It was decided that there was no possibility, and no doctor's consultation was conducted.


Governor Kuroiwa says that he will verify that there was a problem with the response.



In Gunma prefecture, one person who became ill during a health observation at home after being infected died last December.


The age and gender of the elderly were not disclosed, and a positive test was found as a close contact. However, because the health center was mildly ill, it was not subject to hospitalization or medical treatment at accommodation facilities, and health was observed at home. It was a.


When I called the health center on December 24th last year, I confirmed that my condition was stable, but on the 25th of the next day, the health center reported that my symptoms had worsened and I was taken to the hospital. However, he died that day.

Over 8,000 home recuperators in Tokyo

With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, the number of people receiving medical treatment at home continues to increase in Tokyo, exceeding 8,000 as of the 13th.



The number of people infected with the new coronavirus and being treated at home


was 215 on November 1st last year, but


998 on December


1st and 3278 on January 1st. I did.


After that, the number increased to over 8,000 on January 12, and as of January


13, it was 8414.


The number of people receiving medical treatment at home increases or decreases depending on the day, but it has increased about 7 times compared to December 13, last year (1208 people) a month ago.



In addition, the number of people who are adjusting whether to be hospitalized at a medical institution or to


receive

medical treatment at a hotel or home

was 273 on November 1, last year, but


577 on December 1,


▼ January 1 this year. There were 2447 people in the day.


▼ As of January 13, there were 6546 people, which is more than 6 times higher than last year's December 13 (1024 people).

Rental of equipment to measure oxygen concentration in blood to home recuperators

Edogawa-ku, Tokyo is working to lend out medical equipment to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood to people who are being treated at home in order to quickly grasp the worsening of the symptoms of those who are treated at home after being confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus. I will.



In Edogawa Ward, as of the 14th, 704 people, including those who are adjusting hospitalization, have been confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus and are receiving medical treatment at home.



Under these circumstances, the ward is renting out a medical device called a "pulse oximeter" that can measure the oxygen concentration and pulse rate in the blood so that people who are treated at home can quickly notice the worsening of their symptoms.



The ward purchases 270 pieces of this device and rents it out preferentially to the elderly and people with underlying illnesses, and once a day listens to the oxygen concentration value measured by this device over the phone.



Then, when the numerical value is getting worse, the priority for hospitalization is decided after judging it together with the subjective symptoms such as body temperature and cough.



Yoshiko Kikuchi, Deputy Councilor of the Edogawa Ward Health Department, said, "When objective figures are given, people who are undergoing medical treatment feel reassured. We are not facing each other, so it is a material to support our judgment." I'm talking.



The ward wants to secure about 1000 pieces of this device by the end of this month and rent this device to all the people who are recuperating at home.



Governor Koike of Tokyo said, "In order not to repeat this unfortunate example, I would like to improve as a city that puts the highest priority on protecting lives," and the person who is recuperating at home is in good health. He showed the idea of ​​distributing a device to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood so that the change can be grasped quickly.


On top of that, Governor Koike reiterated, "I'm sorry to make the citizens of Tokyo feel uneasy, but first of all, I want them to refrain from going out unnecessarily because they will not be infected."

Medical Association "The stage of the medical field is definitely changing"

Masataka Inoguchi, Vice Chairman of the Tokyo Medical Association, said, "It's a very unfortunate situation. In a situation where hospitalization is not so easy, accommodation treatment and home treatment are key points. People who are receiving treatment at home are mild to moderate. I would like to take a closer look at this case and make further progress on a mechanism that can quickly catch the change to illness or severe illness. "



In addition, Vice Chairman Inoguchi said at a monitoring meeting in Tokyo that the expansion of beds for critically ill patients, which currently has 250 beds, has reached its limit. "When the number of critically ill patients increases, lifesaving The medical care of the emergency center is very tight. If you try to increase the number of beds for severe cases, you have to divide the rooms of patients who are seriously ill with other illnesses into those who are seriously ill in Corona. It's hard to move the patient's bed. "

Expert “Observation of home recuperators is important”

Professor Tetsuya Matsumoto of the International University of Health and Welfare, who specializes in infectious disease studies, said, "Although it would normally be possible to make a decision on hospitalization a little earlier, the medical system is tight, so we have to put up with it and stay at home. The hospital is already full, and even if we try to accept new patients, we cannot be hospitalized due to lack of beds, and we are not in a situation where we can easily increase the number of beds. The medical field is definitely changing stages. " He spoke and pointed out the serious tightness of the medical system.



On top of that, he said, "Some people infected with the new coronavirus are less likely to notice the worsening of their symptoms. When they have symptoms, they are very advanced." After that, if there are people living together, take measures against infection and take

medical treatment at home,

such as ▼


whether you may have difficulty breathing by breathing on your shoulders, or


▼

whether your

complexion has deteriorated.


It is important to observe the situation of the person who is doing it.



"It is also important to use a pulse oximeter to quantify and understand your situation on a regular basis," he said.