A "monitoring meeting" was held to analyze and evaluate the infection status of the new coronavirus in Tokyo, and experts reported that the number of highly infectious mutant viruses was increasing significantly in Tokyo. "There is a concern that the infection will spread explosively and follow a process that exceeds the third wave," he said with a strong sense of crisis.
At the meeting on the 8th, experts maintained the infection status and medical care provision system in Tokyo at the highest alert level of the four stages.
Of these, the 7-day average number of new positives increased from about 349 on the 31st of last week to about 395 on the 7th of this month, with an increase of 113% from the previous week. We have reported that it has continued to exceed 100% since the middle of the month.
And if the rate of increase continues at 113%, the number of new positives per day will increase 1.28 times to about 500 after 2 weeks, and 1.63 times to about 640 after 4 weeks after the Golden Week holidays. ..
Experts pointed out that "the flow of people is increasing in the new year, and we need to be very vigilant against the rapid spread of infection."
In addition, it was reported that the total number of cases infected by highly infectious mutant virus in Tokyo increased significantly from 31 cases as of the 24th of last month two weeks ago to 149 cases as of the 7th of this month.
On top of that, experts said, "It is expected that the rate of increase in the number of new positives will increase further due to the increase in the flow of people and the influence of mutant viruses, etc. There is concern that it will be traced. The results of the efforts tend to appear in about two weeks, and immediate measures need to be taken, "he said with a strong sense of crisis.
On the other hand, regarding the medical care provision system, experts pointed out that "the system may be tight considering the future estimation of the infection situation, the increase in the flow of people, and the influence of the mutant virus."
He added, "The number of patients infected with the mutant virus that requires private room management at present is increasing, and it is difficult to adjust the hospitalization of private rooms, and it is still difficult to adjust the hospitalization of dialysis patients and the elderly." , Showed a sense of crisis due to the tightness of the medical care provision system.
Variant virus rate in Tokyo 32% in the last week 4 times the previous week
In Tokyo, the proportion of highly infectious mutant viruses has increased sharply, and the proportion of the tested samples was 32% in the last week, which is four times that of the previous week. It was found by the analysis of the research institute in Tokyo.
The "Health and Safety Research Center" in Tokyo analyzed the types of mutant viruses in 604 samples that were confirmed to be positive from February to the 4th of this month.
According to it, the mutant virus called "N501Y", which is said to be highly infectious and is often seen in Kansai, was 51 out of 158 samples in the last week until the 4th of this month.
The rate is 32.3%, which is about four times the 8.2% of the previous week.
The research center analyzes that "N501Y" is "rapidly increasing".
On the other hand, the amount of conventional viruses decreased from 52.1% in the week leading up to the 7th of last month to 25.9% in the week leading up to the 4th of this month.
In addition, "E484K", which is a mutant virus different from "N501Y" and has not been seen to have changed such as significantly increased infectivity, was 60% in the week until 28th last month, but this month. In the week up to the 4th, it decreased by 41.8%.
Kazuhisa Yoshimura, director of the "Health and Safety Research Center," said, "There are concerns about the spread of the mutant virus of" N501Y "in the future. I think it is more threatening than" E484K "."