Infection with the new coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Osaka Prefecture.


On the 7th, the prefecture issued a medical emergency declaration, saying that if this situation continues, it could lead to the collapse of medical care.



In response to the red light lit by the Osaka model, an index unique to Osaka Prefecture, the symbol of Osaka, Tsutenkaku, has also turned red.



Experts point out that the infection situation in Osaka in this "4th wave" is "characterized by a small proportion of infected people aged 60 and over, and a large number of younger generations."

At Tsutenkaku in Naniwa Ward, Osaka, more than 30,000 LEDs were all turned red at 6:15 pm on the 7th.



The light-up is in response to the rapid spread of infection, which has tightened the medical system, and the "red light" that indicates an emergency situation has been lit by the Osaka prefecture's original index "Osaka model".

On the monitor installed on the east side of "Tsutenkaku", the face of the character "Mozuyan" from Osaka Prefecture was also projected in tears.

Osaka Prefecture, which issued the "Medical Emergency Declaration," has made the following requests to the citizens of the prefecture.


▼ For dinner, wear a mask for 4 people or less



Refrain

from farewell parties and banquets

▼ Refrain from going out or moving unnecessarily throughout Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture The background of the sense of crisis

The background to the "Medical Emergency Declaration" issued by Osaka Prefecture on the 7th is that the beds for critically ill patients have rapidly become tight in the last few days.



The number of newly infected people in Osaka Prefecture has increased rapidly, exceeding 600 on April 1, and increased to 719 on the 6th and 878 on the 7th.

Along with this, the number of critically ill patients is also increasing rapidly.

In mid-March, the number had decreased to more than 50, but as of April 6, it has nearly tripled to 149, and the usage rate of severely ill beds has risen to 66.5%.

The number of newly infected people in their 20s and 30s is also increasing

Osaka Prefecture is also investigating the infection status of young people in their 20s and 30s.



According to the summary of Osaka Prefecture, the average number of newly infected people during the 7 days until April 6 was 252.71, an increase of 97 from March 31.

He points out that the infection is spreading rapidly in the younger generation.

More than 70% of mutant virus testing targets

Osaka Prefecture is conducting screening tests to investigate the spread of the mutated new coronavirus.



A little less than 10% of the 3462 newly infected people in the week up to April 3 and 304 samples were examined, and it was found that 224, or 73.7%, were mutant viruses.

Expert "The feature is that there are many younger generations, especially teens."

Experts expressed strict awareness of the current spread of infection and the medical system at the meeting of the countermeasures headquarters for the new coronavirus in Osaka Prefecture.



Kazunori Asano, chairman of the Osaka Institute of Public Health, who chaired the prefectural expert meeting, said, "In this" Fourth Wave, "the proportion of infected people aged 60 and over was low, especially among the younger generation. The feature is that there are many teenagers, "he says, analyzing the infection situation in Osaka.



In addition, after analyzing that the influence of the mutant virus is large in the background of the rapid increase in infected people, "Only about 10% of infected people have been investigated, but it is thought that they have already been replaced by mutant strains in Osaka. Depending on the situation, we should pay close attention to the situation with an emergency declaration in mind. "

"The time to become severe is getting faster."

Dr. Tomonori Shirano of Osaka City General Hospital said, "The time it takes for patients to become more severe is faster than before, and the number of children is increasing. It may be. "



On top of that, regarding beds for critically ill patients, "It is difficult to suddenly increase the number of critically ill beds due to the labor required for vaccination. If you overdo it, clusters will occur due to nosocomial infections, and the function will decline. There is a possibility of doing so. "

"May the medical care provision system become extremely tight"

Masaya Yai, director of the Rinku General Medical Center, said, "There is a high possibility that seriously ill patients will occur beyond the 224 beds currently available for critically ill patients, and the medical care provision system will be extremely tight. There is an extremely high risk. It is necessary for Osaka Prefecture to promptly show a policy regarding postponement of waiting surgery and distribution of emergency medical care between hospitals. It is expected that the medical situation will continue to be tight, and prevention of spread, etc. It is likely that it will be too late to wait for the effects of the priority measures. Please consider the request for the issuance of an emergency declaration, "he said, showing a strong sense of crisis.