The spread of the new coronavirus continues.
Tokyo has a record high of 5773 people.
For the first time in Japan, the number of people exceeded 20,000, the highest number ever for a day's announcement.
As the number of home care recipients increases rapidly, local governments that provide home visits to clinics and shopping on their behalf are busy responding.
As of 8:00 pm on the 13th, 20365 infections were announced nationwide.
In addition to Tokyo, which had 5773 people, Kanagawa prefecture (2281 people), Saitama prefecture (1696 people), Chiba prefecture (1089 people), etc. also set a new record high.
Even if you compare on average for one week ...
The average number of new infections per week is also increasing nationwide.
NHK compares the trend of the average number of newly infected people per week with the previous week based on the number of infected people announced by local governments.
In the week leading up to August 12, it has increased 1.24 times compared to the previous week, and the "increase" has continued for 7 weeks, which is more than 1 times the previous week.
Over 20,000 home recuperators in Tokyo
In Tokyo, where the rapid spread of infection continues, the number of people receiving medical treatment at home exceeded 20,000 for the first time on the 12th.
The number has increased 11.3 times from a month ago, and there are a number of people who are forced to take medical treatment at home due to difficulties in adjusting hospitalization.
In the 5th wave of this time, there are already 3 people who die during medical treatment at home, even if the city knows, and there are cases where the health center and the follow-up center of the city cannot keep up with the sudden change in physical condition.
Experts have pointed out that the medical care provision system in Tokyo is "severely dysfunctional", and it is necessary to detect the deterioration of the physical condition of home care patients while it is difficult to accept emergency patients. There is an urgent need to deliver medical care promptly.
Difficulty unique to home-visit medical care
Doctors who visit home caregivers are becoming more vulnerable.
The Itabashi Ward Office Mae Clinic, which provides home medical care in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, also visits home care recipients of the new coronavirus at the request of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
In the two months leading up to June, a total of two cases were dealt with, but since the end of the consecutive holidays last month, the number has increased at a stretch, and now there are 10 cases a day on many days.
In order to respond to the rapid increase in the number of home care patients, it is said that the number of visits has to be limited to about half by prescribing only medicine to those who are in a stable condition among the patients who are usually examined. That being said, there are so many requests that we can't keep up.
Yoichi Suzuki, the deputy director of the clinic, said, "I expected that the infection would spread rapidly and the number of people receiving medical treatment at home would increase, but when I entered the vortex, the situation was quite severe. If you don't limit it, you won't be able to see your home caregiver, but I'd like to avoid getting wrinkled. I've been doing home care for nearly 20 years, but I'm worried that some people may spill. " I have.
Furthermore, it is difficult to have a medical examination at home.
One of the patients who visited at the request of the health center on the 11th was an 8-month-old baby.
The baby continued to have high fever and diarrhea because all three members of the family were infected, but the pulse oximeter, which measures oxygen saturation in the blood, did not reach.
The doctor tried to put the pulse oximeter he had on his baby's finger, but it didn't work and he couldn't measure it.
Fortunately, the auscultation showed no abnormalities and my breathing was stable, so I decided to continue watching at home.
In addition, men in their 60s had low oxygen saturation in their blood, and auscultation revealed that they were more likely to have pneumonia.
I decided that I needed to be hospitalized because I had a chronic disease such as diabetes, so I contacted the health center, but I couldn't find a place to accept it on that day.
The doctor hurriedly tried to arrange a device that could inhale oxygen at home, but it was said that it would be nighttime even if the stock was low and it could be delivered, so I asked another company to handle it.
Deputy Director Suzuki said, "I can't do the same thing as in the hospital because I can't make a lung image diagnosis, and I feel it's difficult to make my own judgment. But that's not always the case at home, and there is a danger of who will notice if there is a sudden change. "
In addition, each medical examination at home is carried out by wearing new protective clothing and thoroughly taking measures against infection, such as disinfecting the back of the bag and shoes after the examination.
Including contacting the health center and prescribing medicines, it takes more than twice as long as regular home visits.
Deputy Director Suzuki said, "Unlike colds, the new corona has a long-lasting fever and cough, so I think I'm worried about home medical treatment. So I understand that I'm even more anxious. In this heat, my physical strength is exhausted, but I want to devote as much as I can. "
The number of applicants for local government agency support has increased rapidly
In Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the number of people who want to help city officials shop for groceries and take out garbage on their behalf is increasing rapidly.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus announced on the 1st has exceeded 1,000 for 17 consecutive days until the 13th, and as of the 12th, more than 11,900 people are being treated at home.
Under these circumstances, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is providing support for grocery and daily necessities shopping and garbage disposal for those who are receiving medical treatment at home and cannot obtain the support of their families. increase.
On the 12th, a person who was receiving medical treatment at home requested to purchase a drink, and the person in charge delivered milk etc. from a supermarket in the city.
To strengthen the system to increase the number of responding staff
In Ebina City, 6 teams and 12 staff members are calling based on the list provided by the prefecture, but hopes for support are increasing.
Since there are cases where people who complain of poor physical condition were transported by emergency, the city plans to increase the number of staff to respond and strengthen the support system.
Masanori Shimura, chief of the Crisis Management Division of Ebina City, said, "The number of people who are afraid of sudden changes in their physical condition and want to make a phone call every day is increasing, and we are also cooperating with the fire department. I was talking.
Professor Tateda "The situation is becoming the toughest in the last year and a half."
Professor Kazuhiro Tateda of Toho University, a member of the government's subcommittee on measures against the new coronavirus, said about the medical system, "Similar to the very difficult situation in Osaka and Kansai during the fourth wave. It is now seen in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and the situation is becoming extremely severe nationwide. In Tokyo, the number of severely ill people is unprecedented, and while hospitalization remains, some people become severely ill or die. In addition, there is a weak part of the medical supply system in Osaka Prefecture, and considering the situation where the number of seriously ill patients is gradually increasing, it seems that the tightness of medical care will not lead to collapse. We have to take measures. "
On top of that, Professor Tateda said, "Anyway, these one or two weeks will be a very important time. Stop people's movements by requesting a leave of absence from places where people gather, including large-scale commercial facilities such as department stores. Please share that the situation is getting toughest in the last year and a half, and I want you to refrain from moving Obon as much as possible and spend time near your home. Appropriate masks Of course, it is important to take thorough measures against these infections, such as ventilation, keeping a distance between people, and shortening the time of contact with people. "