"Isn't the infection spreading more and more?"

Regarding the government's policy that home medical treatment is the basis except for critically ill patients and those who are at high risk of becoming severe, there are voices of anxiety from those who continue home medical treatment and those who have already spread the infection in their families. It's up.

Family members are infected one after another by home medical treatment ...

Last month, a woman who was infected with the new coronavirus in her entire family said that she would be treated at home except for critically ill patients. I'm talking.

A 60-year-old woman who is a care helper living with her husband and two sons in Tokyo was found to be infected with the eldest son of a 30-year-old office worker on the 19th of last month. It was confirmed.

Around the same time, the woman and her 29-year-old second son also tested positive for the PCR.

The eldest son, who was first found to be infected, was treated at a hotel, but it took time to make adjustments and he spent three days at home after confirming the infection, so the woman thinks that the infection spread at home during this time.

The woman said, "I kept my eldest son in a private room so that he wouldn't touch it, but it was difficult to prevent the infection because the toilets were shared. I didn't feel like living while I was taking care of myself at home. "

On top of that, except for critically ill patients and those who are at high risk of becoming severely ill, the policy based on home care is "Medical care is tight and there may be only one way, but it is difficult to prevent domestic infection. I think the infection will spread more and more. I have been absent from work as a care helper for more than two weeks, so I am in anxious situation with no income, and the user or a colleague who is working instead It's painful to think about it. I feel a sense of crisis when the nursing care site, which originally lacks manpower, becomes even more difficult. "

The eldest daughter of a high school student is infected.

In Tokyo, the number of people who continue to receive medical treatment at home has already exceeded 10,000, and the issue is how to proceed with health observation.

A woman in her 40s living in Tokyo continues to receive medical treatment at home because her eldest daughter, a high school student, was infected with the new coronavirus. I'm spending time.

The infection of the eldest daughter of a high school student was confirmed on the 30th of last month, four days ago.

The next day, the health center contacted me, and after investigating the behavior history, the health center explained that I would take over to the follow-up center in Tokyo.

The follow-up center in Tokyo is a contact point for medical consultations and health observations, and the woman called the center because her eldest daughter's fever had risen to the 39-degree range, but she couldn't connect because there were a series of inquiries.

The woman said, "I had my daughter take medicine and food, and I could only cool the fever for the time being. I'm not a seriously ill person, so I can't enter the hotel or hospital, so I have to do it at home. I was worried about what I shouldn't do. My daughter's symptoms are calm now, but when I hear that only people at high risk of aggravation can be hospitalized, I'm worried and uneasy. I feel that there was more I could do before it spread. "

From the labor shortage nursing care site ...

On the other hand, care workers who are suffering from chronic labor shortages are worried that there will be more cases where they will not be able to go to work due to the spread of infection in the homes of care workers.

At a special nursing home for the elderly in Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture, on the 29th of last month, it was discovered that the family members living with the staff were infected with the new coronavirus, and the staff were judged to be close contacts.

The family wanted accommodation, but there was no room, so they had to take care of themselves for 10 days.

The local health center explained that it would be difficult to completely cut off contact at home, such as in the bath or toilet, and that it would be necessary for the close contact person to wait at home for another 14 days after his or her medical treatment was completed.

The staff will not be able to work until the 22nd of this month.

During this period, managers decided to take care of the facility and other staff members gave up their vacations to make ends meet, but the number of night shifts is seven for many people.

Sachiko Ishii, the long-term care manager who manages the work, said, "Originally, there is a shortage of manpower at the long-term care site, and if even one person is missing, it will have a big impact. The burden on the patient is also increasing. "

So far, there have been four cases in which we have been unable to work for a certain period of time due to a domestic infection at this facility.

Regarding the government's policy of home medical treatment except for critically ill patients and those who are at high risk of becoming severe, Koji Tsugawa, the director of the facility, said, "Treatment at home increases the risk of infection at home and makes close contact. I'm afraid that people will continue to wait at home, which will increase the burden on the nursing care site. "

Expert "Issues to be able to connect to medical care as soon as possible"

Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, a member of the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, said, "Some people infected with the new coronavirus develop pneumonia without feeling much difficulty in breathing, and the symptoms worsen rapidly. We know that there are a certain number of people. The challenge is to find out who is sick at home and quickly connect to medical care. "

On top of that, "If you are hospitalized, it is clear who will be responsible for management, such as your doctor, but in the case of home medical treatment, it may not be clearly decided. If you are a younger generation, you may not have a family doctor. However, it is also necessary to establish a medical system in the community, such as having them take responsibility for follow-up of their health condition. "

In addition, Professor Wada commented on the current infection situation, saying, "It has been a year and a half since the spread of corona in Japan, and now the risk of infection is the highest. I want you to go. Especially now that medical care is tight, you may not get the medical care you expect even if you get infected. To protect yourself and your family, reduce the chances of meeting and contacting people anyway. I have to get it. "