NHK interviewed a man in his 40s who said that the medical system in Tokyo was in a critical situation due to the spread of the new coronavirus, and the hospitalization destination was difficult to decide even if the symptoms suddenly worsened and he requested emergency transportation. "I felt a strong anxiety," he said at the time.
A 45-year-old male office worker living in Tokyo lives with his wife, two children, and a mother in her 70s.
On the 22nd of last month, the infection of the eldest son of a college student was first discovered.
Two days later, on the 24th, the man also had symptoms, and he felt a fever in the 38 degree range and a change in taste.
As a result of inspection on the 26th, a man, his wife, and his second son were all infected.
A man who had no underlying illness and was confident in his physical strength by playing baseball and golf.
I was receiving medical treatment at home, but on the 27th, my fever rose to 39 degrees 7 minutes.
On the night of the 31st, the symptoms suddenly worsened and the respiratory condition suddenly deteriorated, and when measured with a pulse oximeter at home, it is said that the oxygen saturation in the blood dropped to 89.
The man recalls, "I was confident in my physical strength and thought that I was okay with my age, but suddenly I had difficulty breathing and was surprised."
My wife immediately called for an ambulance, but I couldn't find a hospital to accept it, and the ambulance remained near my house.
It is said that two paramedics who took immediate action at home continued to call for acceptance.
About three hours later, I was able to be admitted to a hospital about 30 kilometers away from my home.
According to the hospital where they were hospitalized, paramedics said they had been refused acceptance by medical institutions in about 100 cases.
It is said that the man was encouraged by the fact that the members kept calling out, "I will definitely find a hospital," while I was about to become conscious.
"I thought it was no good because I was worried that I couldn't go to the hospital even if I called an ambulance, but the ambulance crew kept calling me with my eyes engorged, so I got the courage to do my best." I did.
When he was hospitalized, he was on the verge of putting on a respirator, and he put on a device to send high-concentration oxygen, and the nurse laid his face down to make it easier to send oxygen.
The man said, "I fainted several times because I felt like I couldn't get oxygen even when I breathed. I felt that it was getting worse and I could return," said the situation at that time.
After that, my symptoms recovered and I was able to be discharged on the 12th of this month, 19 days after the fever and 11 days after the hospitalization.
Fortunately, there are no symptoms that seem to be sequelae, but he lost 7 kilograms, weakened his muscles, and had difficulty walking.
The man said, "I was always worried because I couldn't eat rice and inhaled oxygen, but the numbers didn't improve. I thought that if I died, it would bother my family, and I was desperate to live. Corona is really scary. I'm horrified to think what would have happened if I hadn't been hospitalized. "
This family was infected with 4 out of 5 people.
While suffering from the symptoms of the new coronavirus, each of them watched over the decision of the hospitalization destination for the man and hoped for the recovery of the symptoms.
The man's wife said that the high fever had continued for about a week, "I never thought that we would be infected. I was really anxious because the hospital was not decided even if an ambulance came, so I could only pray by my side. I was talking.
The 19-year-old second son said, "I thought it would be serious if my father was hospitalized for a long time, and I was worried about what to do if I died. I thought it was not a big deal because I was young, but when I got infected, I went out. It was hard because I couldn't do it. Now, I think it's important not to be okay, but to be careful not to infect others. "