As the situation has changed, such as the vaccination of the new coronavirus and the development of therapeutic drugs, the government subcommittee has changed the concept of the "stage" that has been the basis for considering countermeasures, and the medical pressure is tight. We have put together a proposal for a new way of thinking that measures will be taken in five levels, with more emphasis on the degree of.
By doing so, the infection should be suppressed to a level that does not cause medical strain, and the recovery of daily life and socio-economic activities should be promoted.
Until now, new corona countermeasures have been judged in four stages from "Stage 1" to the most serious "4" according to the infection and medical conditions in each prefecture, and countermeasures have been taken according to each. However, the government subcommittee said that the situation is changing, such as the progress of vaccination and the development of therapeutic drugs, the increase in the proportion of people with mild illness even if infected, and the decrease in the usage rate of beds for severely ill people. We have put together a new way of thinking.
In the new plan, the infection status of each prefecture can be changed from "level 0", which can maintain the situation without infected people, to "level 4", which cannot support the medical treatment of the new corona even if general medical treatment is greatly restricted. It is divided into five stages and shows the required measures for each.
Of these, "Level 0" and "Level 1", which enables stable medical care even if there are infected people, further promote vaccination to strengthen the medical system and take basic measures such as masks and disinfection. The inspection system will be enhanced and the source of infection will be thoroughly investigated.
The subcommittee has set "Level 1" as a "level to be maintained" and states that it is possible to gradually recover daily life and socio-economic activities.
"Level 2" is a "level where alertness should be strengthened" in situations where the number of infected people is increasing and the number of beds is increased so that people in need of medical care can be appropriately treated.
Prefectural governments are required to indicate the status and forecast of infection and medical care at that time, call for avoiding behaviors with a high risk of infection, and gradually strengthen the system of health centers and secure beds.
"Level 3" is a "level where measures should be strengthened" that cannot be dealt with by corona unless general medical care is restricted to a considerable extent. ..
At "Level 3" when the "number of beds secured" by each prefecture reaches the "number of beds estimated to be required after 3 weeks" or when the bed usage rate exceeds 50%. In addition to declaring an emergency and securing more beds, it is required to limit the number of restaurants and events and the time, especially in metropolitan areas.
The most serious "level 4" is the "level you want to avoid" in situations where general medical care cannot be supported even if general medical care is severely restricted.
At this stage, it is required to take measures as "disaster medical care" such as further restrictions on general medical care and adjustment of beds across regions.
In the subcommittee, how much medical care will be strained due to the increase in the number of infected people differs in each prefecture, so the level is judged by each prefecture in terms of the number of infected people, the rate of increase, the positive rate of tests, the bed usage rate, etc. It is said that it will make a comprehensive judgment using a tool that predicts the future situation, along with indicators such as the number of people receiving medical treatment at home and those who are adjusting medical treatment, the number of severely ill people, etc. Hmm.
On the other hand, as for the guideline for canceling strong measures, keeping the conventional way of thinking, the bed usage rate is less than 50%, the hospitalization rate and the number of severely ill people are improving, and the medical treatment adjustment with the medical treatment person at home. It will be released based on the fact that the total number of people inside is steadily decreasing toward about 60 per 100,000 people in metropolitan areas, and that the number of infected people has been on a downward trend for about two weeks in a row. I need it.
The proposal is expected to be officially decided after discussions at the subcommittee meeting held on the 8th.