An expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on measures against the new coronavirus, and it was pointed out that the number of newly infected people nationwide is gradual and it is expected that the number of infected people will remain at a high level for a while. Did.

As the number of seriously ill and deceased people continues to be high, it is required to accelerate the booster vaccination of the elderly.

Expert meetings have shown that the number of infected people nationwide has been declining in all age groups, while the number of infected people is high, especially in metropolises, because the number of infected people is high and the rate of decrease is slow, so the number of infected people is high for at least a while. It is expected to change at the level.



Furthermore, the number of infected people is increasing rapidly due to the rapid increase in the number of people in downtown areas at night, mainly in areas where priority measures such as prevention of spread have been lifted, such as Okinawa Prefecture, and there are signs so far. Also note that although it is not, there is a possibility that it will be replaced by a virus of the strain called "BA.2", which is pointed out to be more infectious, and it will start to increase again, and there will be more opportunities for contact with people toward the end of the fiscal year. Is needed.



In addition, the number of severely ill people and the number of people dying continue to be high, and for the time being, due to the tight medical system for mild and moderate cases and the increase in the number of elderly people with severe illness, the bed usage rate of severely ill patients There is a possibility that the trend of staying high will continue.



Expert meetings need to accelerate vaccination of the elderly to reduce the number of deaths and ensure that infections are on the decline, and to continue treatment of the underlying disorder even if they are infected with corona. It is pointed out that it is necessary to promptly connect people with a high risk of illness to the medical examination.



In addition, since the infection spread when many people gathered, such as events, the infection spread, so avoid even one dense place toward the end of the year when the graduation ceremony and spring break will be held, and when going out, it will be a crowded place. He emphasized the need to avoid high-risk situations and to take thorough infection control measures such as proper wearing of non-woven masks, disinfection of fingers, and ventilation.

Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto "It is necessary to thoroughly prevent infection toward the new fiscal year at the end of the fiscal year."

Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto said at an expert meeting, "Although the number of newly infected people continues to decrease in many areas, some areas have leveled off or turned to an increase, and the level of infection in metropolitan areas is still high, and local infections. The tendency to improve the situation is also weak. For the time being, there is a possibility that the trend of increasing the usage rate of severe beds will continue due to the tightness of the medical care provision system for mild and moderate cases and the increase in the number of elderly people with severe illness. " I did.



On top of that, "Especially toward the end of the year and the new year, events such as graduation ceremonies, spring breaks, entrance ceremonies and cherry-blossom viewing will be held, and it will be a season when many people move to work or go on to school. Since the infection has spread due to such an opportunity so far, it is necessary to thoroughly implement infection prevention measures. "

Chair Wakita "There is a good chance that the infection will spread again."

At a press conference after the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting, Chairman Takaji Wakita said, "In big cities, the ratio of new infections this week to last week is decreasing to about 0.8. The "effective number of reproductions" is around "1", and if the chances of contact increase a little, it can be a factor in the spread of infection. Currently, the beginning of a new epidemic is not visible, but the epidemic so far continues. I think that the situation is happening in various areas. "



On top of that, "In the future, there will be spring breaks, three consecutive holidays, and graduation ceremonies and employment at the end of the fiscal year, and there will be more opportunities for contact and meeting people that we do not usually meet. From our experience so far, the spread of infection will be repeated. There is a good chance that the infection will spread again in the future. It is important to take basic infection control measures. "



Regarding "BA.2", one of the Omicron strains, "The" BA.2 "strain is still at a low level, but it is said to be more infectious than the current mainstream" BA.1 "strain. Therefore, if the number increases in the future, the rapid spread of infection may not stop again. "

The number of newly infected people is declining in some areas nationwide

According to the materials presented at the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of newly infected people in the week up to one day continues to decrease by 0.84 times compared to the previous week in the whole country.



The pace of decline is gradual, and there are some areas where it is increasing, especially in areas where priority measures such as spread prevention have been lifted or not applied.



Of the areas to which priority measures are applied, in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures


▽ 0.81 times in Tokyo and Chiba prefectures


▽ 0.84 times in Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures ▽

0.76 times in Osaka prefecture



▽

Kyoto and Hyogo 0.79 times in

prefecture ▽ 0.78 times in Wakayama prefecture ▽

0.84 times in Aichi prefecture

▽

0.79 times in Gifu prefecture

▽ 0.87 times in Mie prefecture.

In other areas where priority measures are applied

▽ 0.82 times in Hokkaido ▽

0.94 times in Aomori prefecture ▽

0.92 times in Fukushima prefecture ▽

0.93 times in Ibaraki prefecture ▽

0.88 times in Tochigi prefecture ▽ 0.88 times

in Gunma prefecture ▽ 0.88 times in

Niigata prefecture 0.88 times

▽ 0.77 times in Nagano prefecture ▽

0.95 times in Shizuoka prefecture ▽

0.86 times in Okayama prefecture ▽

0.91 times in Hiroshima prefecture ▽

0.94 times in Kagawa prefecture ▽

0.89 times in Kochi prefecture ▽

0.85 times in Fukuoka prefecture

▽ 0.88 times in Saga prefecture

▽ 0.98 times in Nagasaki Prefecture




























▽ 0.87 times in Kumamoto prefecture ▽


0.97 times in Miyazaki prefecture


▽ 0.93 times in Kagoshima prefecture, which is a decrease from the same level.



However


, ▽ Ishikawa Prefecture has increased 1.09 times from the previous week.



In areas where priority measures were lifted on the 20th of last month,


▽ Yamagata prefecture 0.91 times


▽ Yamaguchi prefecture 0.95 times, which has decreased from the same level, while


▽ Shimane prefecture 1.23 times


▽ Oita prefecture 1.04 times


▽ Okinawa prefecture 1.12 It has doubled.



In addition, even in areas where priority measures have not been applied so far, there are places where the number has increased by



1.33 times in Iwate prefecture


, 1.16 times in Fukui prefecture,


and 1.20 times in Tokushima prefecture.



Looking at the current infection status in the last week per 100,000 population,


▽ Osaka prefecture has the highest number of infected people 637.88 people,


followed


by ▽ Tokyo prefecture with 563.72 people


▽ Nara prefecture with 484.57 people


▽ Kanagawa prefecture with 467.14 people. There


are 364.29 people nationwide.