As the infection of the new coronavirus by the Omicron strain spreads rapidly, clinics in Tokyo are busy dealing with the rapidly increasing number of outpatients with fever, which is beginning to affect general outpatient clinics.

The clinic in Meguro-ku, Tokyo accepts general outpatients as well as fever outpatients who inspect new coronas.



According to the clinic, the number of people visiting the fever outpatient department was about 5 people a day last month, but it has increased rapidly from 20 to 30 people at the beginning of the year and from 35 to 40 people this week. As a result of the test, more than 30% are positive for the new corona on some days.



It is possible to determine whether it is a Delta strain by the inspection of this clinic, but the result is that almost all of them are other than the Delta strain, and the clinic considers it to be an Omicron strain based on the infection situation in Tokyo.



Currently, two doctors handle general outpatients and fever outpatients on separate floors, but recently they have been busy dealing with fever outpatients, and in principle, general outpatients are changed to a reservation system and the number of people accepted is limited. It means that the influence is also beginning to appear.



Hideaki Ichimaru, director of the "Hidemaru Emergency Clinic," said, "Since the beginning of the New Year, when the number of patients receiving medical examinations has increased, there have been some distressing situations in which even if an emergency patient or a general patient comes with a painful symptom, he / she will return once. I am trying to accept even one person who has a fever outpatient, but I am in an unwilling state where I have not been able to contribute to the original role of a "community clinic". "

The number of outpatients with fever has increased sharply since the beginning of the year.

According to the clinic, the number of outpatients with fever has increased sharply since the beginning of the year, and the positive rate of tests has also increased this week.



In addition to being positive or negative, this clinic's test will check whether it is a delta strain, but almost all of them have been determined not to be delta strains, and the clinic considers them to be Omicron strains.



The director said, "At the beginning of the new year, the positive rate rose to 10% or more at once, and this week after the three consecutive holidays when there was an adult ceremony, the number of people visiting the fever outpatient department increased from 35 to 40 people a day, and the positive rate is high. There are days when it has exceeded 30%. "

"We have no choice but to limit general outpatient reservations."

At the clinic, the 1st floor is divided into a fever outpatient department and the 2nd floor is divided into general outpatient departments and floors, and two doctors are in charge of medical treatment.



The director said, "Although general internal medicine, surgery, and emergency services are open separately from the fever outpatient department, we have no choice but to limit the reservations for general outpatients due to the response to the fever outpatient department. Currently, one person manages the fever outpatient department. However, I am trying to accept it, but I am reluctant to be able to contribute to the original role of a "community clinic". The staff are getting tired and there are concerns about manpower. I'm starting. "



On the other hand, the symptoms of people who have been confirmed to be infected with the new corona are that they often have fever and sore throat.



For those who are judged to be positive and have been treated at home or at a hotel, the medicine is prescribed and delivered from the pharmacy.



Dr. Ichimaru said, "I have the impression that there are many close contacts with one infected person, probably because they gathered during the New Year holidays. I feel that we are approaching a situation where we have to avoid contact and spend time quietly. I was talking