The number of people who died in the sixth wave of the spread of the new coronavirus that spread the Omicron strain exceeded 4,000 by the 23rd, exceeding the fifth wave of last summer when the Delta strain spread. I am.
Experts say that the number of elderly people who are at high risk of becoming severely infected has not decreased so much and the number of people dying may continue to increase for a certain period of time. I'm pointing out.
The number of people who died from the new corona infection was 246 on the 23rd, and the number of people who died in the sixth wave of this infection was 4,196.
The number of people who died from the new corona in the 5th wave last summer was
3073 from August to October
last year. Even if the announcements are combined, there are 3483 people, and
this 6th wave is more.
It is said that the Omicron strain has a lower risk of becoming more severe than the Delta strain, but the
number of infected people was more than 920,000 even in the four months from July to October last year, while in the sixth wave. In less than two months until the 23rd, the number of people has increased to about
2.97
million, which is an order of magnitude
higher.
Regarding this, Professor Koji Wada of the International University of Health and Welfare, who is a member of the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, said, "Infection spreads to elderly people in their 80s and 90s who are at high risk of becoming severely infected while the number of infected people is extremely large. I think that the number of people who are dying due to deterioration of their physical condition due to dehydration or accidental pneumonia caused by infection is increasing. Currently, the number of newly infected people is decreasing. Many of the declines are in the younger generation, and the number of elderly infections has not decreased so much. The number of people dying may continue to increase for a certain period of time. "
On the other hand, the number of severely ill people is about 1500, which is less than the 2200 in September last year during the 5th wave, and Professor Wada said, "I was taken to the hospital because I could not treat at an early stage. In many cases, the condition has deteriorated considerably at that time. Especially in elderly patients, some of them have died without being counted as seriously ill without using a respirator. "
Professor Wada said, "Originally in winter, there are many injuries due to falls and cardiovascular diseases, and especially during the period when there is a high demand for emergency medical care, the expansion of the corona overlaps and the medical system is rapidly tightening. It's difficult, but I face difficulties when I need medical care, for example, due to an accident or sudden illness. It may be happening. It is necessary to further promote booster vaccinations and continuously reduce infections throughout the region. "