Why words don't sound August 27, 19:31

The fourth state of emergency that began on the 12th of last month.

However, the number of people has not decreased as expected, the infection has spread, and the medical system is in a critical state, especially in the metropolitan area.

The bureaucrats who have been responsible for the new corona measures are rushing.

(Kasumigaseki's real coverage group Sachiyo Sugita)

No effect of declaration?

"Fifth wave" where Delta stocks rage.

The biggest feature is that there are many infected people in the younger generation.

How do you take the declaration now?

After 3:00 pm in late August, I headed to Harajuku station.

A man in his twenties

"A state of emergency? I know it's coming out, but I can't refrain from doing it anymore."

Teenage woman

"It doesn't matter to us because only alcohol is restricted"

Is it the limit of declaration anymore?

Kasumigaseki's bureaucrats were slowly beginning to feel the limits.

30's bureaucrat

"No matter what I say, it doesn't affect the people"

40s bureaucrat

"No one knows how to get rid of the infection"

Are the bureaucrats working?

Approval of therapeutic agents to secure beds.

The country has come up with various measures, all of which are "symptomatic treatments."

The country has consistently asked the people to refrain from converging if the number of newly infected people is not reduced.

Then, Prime Minister Suga declared this state of emergency with the determination that "this time will be the last."

The number of people and contact has not decreased as much as the previous declarations.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare plays a central role in the measures.

The head of the department in charge of infectious diseases and vaccination takes the current situation as follows.

Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Tokuaki Shobayashi, Director of Health Bureau

"Please refrain from going out" or "Please refrain from going to restaurants" from the country, but it is difficult to do so even if you send various information. I feel a dilemma. After all, many people have been facing this pandemic for more than a year and have lived a fairly restrained life, so I wonder if it is becoming so-called corona tiredness, self-restraint tiredness, etc. "

Due to the corona, the overtime hours of bureaucrats of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare are outstanding even in Kasumigaseki.

I started interviewing the staff around me to find out what happened to Director Masabayashi.

Mr. A

"The complexion gradually turns blue toward the second half of the week."

What does it mean to have a pale complexion?

According to the staff, it may be due to lack of sleep.

I was asked to secretly show the schedule of the day with the director.

Overtime work is less than 200 hours a month.

As a manager, of course, there is no overtime pay.

One employee leaks:

Mr. B

"It is only at night that the director is caught even if there is a matter. It is quite difficult to get time even because there are a huge number of projects with the new corona."

On this day as well, it took about three hours to secure a gap in order to respond to discussions and reports within the ministry.

Recently, it has set out policies such as improving the vaccination system and expanding the scope of antibody cocktail therapy.

On the other hand, the number of people who are important is not decreasing, and the number of people staying at night is increasing in the downtown area of ​​Tokyo.

There are no signs that the voice is reaching.

I asked the director

I asked Mr. Masabayashi.

Q: I can't see the effect of the declaration.

Director Masabayashi:

"I've been asking the people to refrain from making emergency declarations many times, and I think I've been thinking about

putting

up with it for over a year now. I think a lot of people have a backlash against being restrained all the time, and I think they're willing to give up. "

Q: The infection has not subsided and the number of people has not decreased.

Director Masabayashi

"Vaccines are the greatest weapon right now, so I would like to devote all my energy to getting as many people as possible to inoculate. From October to November, inoculation is generally given to those who wish. Since it is over, I think that the situation will change considerably by that time.

However, the infection is spreading at a speed that I have never experienced before

. The

speed of infection now is If it continues for a long time, there is a concern that the sickbed will be insufficient and the life that would be saved if it was really normal would not be saved. However, the sense of crisis does not resonate with the people. What should I do? In order to protect the situation, the staff are almost sleepless, thinking about various measures and taking measures, but sometimes we feel a dilemma or pain about not being able to share our sense of crisis with the people. In the end, without the cooperation of the people, no matter how much the government takes measures, it will not work. "

Q: How can we share a sense of crisis with the public?

Director Masabayashi

"What should I do (after thinking for a while) ..."

Then, after thinking again, the director began to say:

Tokuaki Shobayashi, Director of Health Bureau

"I think it's important how much you can use your imagination. First, imagine your most important person, and it may be your wife or your husband. Or, parents or children, important friends or lovers. Imagine that person becomes infected, becomes severely ill, and in some cases dies. . Avoid wearing a mask properly, washing your hands, having a mask dinner even if you go to a restaurant, drinking alcohol and making a loud noise. Do not go to the crowd. The most important person is infected Imagine not to do this, and take proper measures against infection. I hope I can share with many people that this is important. "

Did the director also talk while thinking of his wife, daughter, and son?

The "fifth wave", also known as a disaster.

Just like a disaster, it may be important to "protect yourself".

Bureaucrats struggling to control the infection.

After the interview, the director said he wanted to hear the voices of the younger generation directly.

How do you think the voices of bureaucrats will resonate with you?

We look forward to hearing from you.

Social section reporter

Sachi Sugita bill

2010 joined

mainly incident or disaster in charge in Wakayama stations and Osaka stations

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in society part from 2016, is now through the Ministry of the Environment in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Kasumi Seki's real

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