Tokyo Metropolitan Mutant Virus Testing Strengthening Challenges to Build a System at the Request of Private Institutions

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government intends to expand the scale with the cooperation of private testing organizations in order to strengthen the testing for the mutated new coronavirus.

Private-sector tests account for 90% of all tests in Tokyo, but when introducing a new test for a mutant virus, it is necessary to acquire know-how, and the challenge is to quickly create a system.

In Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Health and Safety and one private-sector testing institution with which we have cooperated since last month are testing for mutant viruses that are said to be highly infectious.

However, currently only about 10% of new positives in Tokyo can be tested, and the city is aiming to raise this percentage to about 25% early next month and then to 40%.

To that end, the city wants not only to increase the number of tests at research centers, but also to expand the scale of testing for mutant viruses at private testing institutions, which account for about 93% of regular tests.

However, since the method of testing for mutant viruses is different from that of normal testing, it is necessary to acquire the know-how of the person in charge and secure testing personnel when introducing a new virus.

As the number of confirmed infections continues to increase in Tokyo, many private testing institutions do not have a system for testing mutant viruses, and the challenge is to quickly create a system.

For this reason, the city plans to create a mechanism to carry positive samples from private testing institutions to the research center of the city and test for mutant viruses.

Metropolitan "strategic inspection"

The city is conducting "strategic testing" to catch clusters early and monitor the spread of infection.

Examinations to catch clusters at an early stage began on 19th of this month at three medical institutions in Katsushika Ward, targeting doctors and nurses.

In the future, we plan to regularly promote it at facilities for the elderly in other areas as well.

In addition, tests to be carried out in downtown areas and specific areas to monitor the spread of infection will be carried out in collaboration with the municipalities and the national government, such as by supporting the tests conducted by Edogawa Ward on employees of pubs and karaoke shops. It's an idea.