From the testimony of the parties concerned, it became clear that people infected with the new coronavirus are being mentally driven by being asked to apologize by their employer or being worried about whether or not they will move around.
In some cases, women undergoing medical treatment at home commit suicide, and experts point out the importance of mental care for infected people.
The woman who was asked to apologize by her employer
A woman in her 40s who was infected with the new coronavirus and finished medical treatment at a hotel told NHK about her experience of being asked to apologize by her boss.
A woman in her 40s living in the Kanto region had a sudden fever last month and underwent a PCR test, which revealed that she was infected with the new coronavirus.
The symptom was relatively mild, and he had to be treated at a hotel, but he had anxiety that he might get worse because he had asthma when he was a child.
However, when I reported the infection to the welfare company I work for, my boss said, "I was worried that other people in the company might have been transferred from you."
The woman said, "I was surprised and painful when I was told that when I was being cornered,'I might die too.'"
In addition, when I told him by phone that he had finished his medical treatment at the hotel, he was instructed to "Apologize to the person who caused the inconvenience when he was able to come to work before starting work." It means that he is still ordered to work from home after three weeks.
The woman was taking measures against infection, such as avoiding eating and drinking outside of her home, but she was shocked when she realized that the atmosphere of "the infected person is bad" is spreading from the communication with her workplace.
The woman said, "I have to say'I'm sorry'because I'm sick. Why is the infected person bad only for the new corona? If I don't have friends and family to support me, I'll be more cornered. I hope that the society will be one in which infected people do not have to think, "I don't want to live because I caused trouble to people around me."
A woman who is being treated at home where her elderly mother lives
In addition, a woman who had been treated for five days at home where her elderly mother lived after being infected said, "I was worried that I might be transferred to my mother, and I felt sorry for it."
A woman in her thirties living in Tokyo was tested positive last month because her colleague was infected and she was found to be positive.
A woman who lived with her mother in her 70s decided to take care of her at the hotel, but she was forced to take care of her at home for five days due to lack of room.
The mother is older and has an underlying illness, so she was afraid that it could be life-threatening if infected.
The woman recalls, "My mother was disappointed because I was infected. I was full of fear and anxiety that I might be depressed, and I felt sorry for bringing in the virus." ..
In order to avoid contact with her mother as much as possible, the woman went on to wear down her nerves by switching conversations to the telephone and disinfecting with alcohol every time she touched the doorknob.
At that time, there was a post on Twitter saying, "My mother feels uneasy. I'm sorry. What will happen to the end of the year?", And it seems that she is being cornered.
The woman is said to have come to blame herself for being infected, but the encouragement of her friend who was communicating on LINE helped her heart, and her mother was able to complete her medical treatment without being infected.
The woman said, "I had mild symptoms, but I became quite unstable mentally. When I was cornered, my vision became narrower and narrower, so there was a consultation desk for mental care in places where I could easily touch, such as SNS. I wish I had it. "
Expert "Mental care should be strengthened"
In Tokyo, mental care for infected people has become an issue this month, as a woman in her thirties who was undergoing medical treatment at home committed suicide leaving a memo saying that she caused trouble because of herself.
Katsuyoshi Shinkouchi, a psychiatric social worker, said, "Many people feel guilty about being infected, but it is important to tell the infected person that nothing is wrong." In particular, recuperators at home may be isolated due to loss of contact with those around them, but we will strengthen not only physical condition but also mental care by setting up a dedicated consultation desk for infected people. Should be ".
Established a telephone consultation desk for people who are recuperating at home in Kanagawa
When NHK interviewed prefectures and ordinance-designated cities nationwide, most local governments had not yet taken sufficient measures to provide mental care to people infected with the new coronavirus.
On the other hand, Kanagawa Prefecture has set up a dedicated telephone consultation service for people who are undergoing medical treatment at home and their families since May last year.
Nearly 600 consultations have been received in about 9 months, which means that the number has increased especially this month.
Some of them said, "I'm thinking of returning to work after my home medical treatment, but my workplace requires more tests than necessary." "I'm having trouble with my workplace's response after being infected." "My child was infected, but bullying. I'm worried if I can't do it. "
Nachiko Okami, a nurse who responds to consultations, said, "Many people have various worries because they are isolated. To those who call," You can say anything you want to say. I'm telling you, but I'd like you to call me if you feel uneasy or pondered because it doesn't matter what the content is. "