“The number of infected people has not clearly decreased” Expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

An expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on measures against the new coronavirus, and it took longer than before to reduce the number of infected people after the flow of people decreased due to the influence of the highly infectious mutant virus regarding the current infection situation. We analyzed that the number of infected people has not clearly started to decrease at this time.

In addition, it is suggested that the mutant virus spreading in India may be more infectious than the mutant virus first found in the United Kingdom, which is spreading in Japan, and it is necessary to take measures such as strengthening the monitoring system. I will.

At the expert meeting on the 19th,

▽ In addition to

infections and medical system conditions in Tokyo and Osaka, which have been more than three weeks since the state of emergency was declared,

▽ Other areas where infections are spreading rapidly. The situation was analyzed.

Among them, the expert meeting analyzed that although there are large regional differences in the infection situation nationwide, the number of infected people has not clearly decreased at this point, and the number of seriously ill and dying people continues to increase. Did.

By region, the number of newly infected people is declining in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures where emergency declarations have been issued, but the level remains extremely high. In Osaka prefecture, the central area and downtown areas are located after the Golden Week holidays. The number of people is increasing during the day and at night, and it is necessary to pay attention to future trends.

In addition, the severe situation in which general medical care must be restricted continues, and it is required to reduce the number of infected people in order to protect the system to receive necessary medical care.

In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the number of infected people has remained almost unchanged in Tokyo, and has increased slightly from the same level in Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures. It is said that caution is required as the number of people is increasing.

Furthermore, among the areas added to the subject of the state of emergency from this week

, the number of infected people may continue to increase in Hokkaido, and the medical care provision system is in a difficult situation such as clusters at hospitals and welfare facilities. It is said that it continues.

▽ In Okayama and Hiroshima prefectures, the number of infected people continues to increase and the bed usage rate is also high, and it is possible that the spread of infection will continue in the future.

Except for areas where a state of emergency has been declared, the number of infected people has increased since the Golden Week holidays, and visitors from outside the prefecture, despite the fact that five weeks have passed since the application of priority measures such as prevention of spread in Okinawa Prefecture. In addition to the fact that there are cases of infection in other people, there are concerns about an increase in the number of seriously ill people and the tight medical care.

Regarding the current spread of infection, the expert meeting said that it took longer than before from the decrease in the flow of people to the decrease in the number of infected people because highly infectious mutant viruses have become the mainstream. He pointed out that the current situation is that it has not led to a significant reduction in infection.

And once it expands, the speed will be faster than before and the burden on the medical care provision system will increase, so necessary measures should be taken promptly.

In addition, it has been suggested that the mutant virus that spreads in India may be more infectious than the mutant virus that was first found in the United Kingdom, which is spreading in Japan. He pointed out that it is necessary to take prompt action to suppress the spread of infection in Japan as much as possible.

"Declaration" cancellation expert "It is very difficult to judge whether it is possible at the end of this month"

At a press conference after the meeting, Chairman Takaji Wakita was asked about the conditions for the cancellation of the state of emergency. The criteria for canceling the state of emergency are to enter stage 3 and to move toward stage 2, but even if the number of newly infected people stops declining, the situation will continue for as long as possible. It's important to let them do it. "

On top of that, "In Kansai, the number of newly infected people has been declining, but considering that it takes more than 5 weeks from the decrease in the resident population to the decrease in the number of newly infected people, we will firmly observe that the declining trend will continue. It is necessary, and it is very difficult to judge whether it can be canceled at the end of this month. In Tokyo, the number of newly infected people is almost flat, and the power to suppress infection and the power of mutant virus with strong infectivity are strong. I would like to confirm the transition of whether it will expand or decrease in the future in a situation where it is resisting. "