An expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on measures against the new coronavirus, and the number of newly infected people nationwide is expected to remain at a high level for a while, with mild and moderate cases. He pointed out that the tightness of the medical system may continue.


In addition to promoting additional vaccinations, we are calling for thorough infection control measures toward the three consecutive holidays and the end of this month, when many people will have more opportunities to gather.

At the expert meeting, the rate of decrease in infection status nationwide has continued to decrease in all age groups, but the rate of decrease has been gradual. He pointed out that cases of infection continue.



In addition, it is expected that the number of infected people will remain at a high level nationwide for at least a while, such as an increase in some areas where the level of infection was relatively low.



In addition, although the number of severely ill people and the number of people dying are declining, for the time being, in many areas, the use of beds for severely ill patients due to the tight medical system for mild and moderate illness and the increase in the number of severely ill elderly people. It is possible that the rate will remain high.



The proportion of people in their 80s or older who died from the spread of the infection is high, and there are many cases where corona is not the direct cause of death, such as the fact that the underlying disorder worsens and dies as a result of the infection. The family meeting points out that it is necessary to continue treatment of the underlying disorder even if the person is infected with corona, and to further accelerate boosters.



In addition, since the infection spread when many people gathered, such as events, the infection spread, so avoid even one secret when going out toward the end of the year when the three consecutive holidays, graduation ceremony and spring break will be held at the end of this month. Emphasized that it is necessary to avoid crowded areas and high-risk situations, and to take thorough infection control measures such as proper wearing of non-woven masks, disinfection of hands and fingers, and ventilation.

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

Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Goto said at an expert meeting, "The number of newly infected people continues to decrease in many areas, but the decrease trend is weak in areas where the infection level is relatively low, and the decline has stopped. There are regional differences in the situation. In some areas where the application of priority measures such as spread prevention has been lifted, the situation has been flat or increasing. "



On top of that, "From now on, graduation ceremonies, spring breaks, entrance ceremonies, cherry-blossom viewing, and other events where many people gather will be held toward the end of the year and the new year, and it will be a season when many people move to work or go on to higher education. Since the infection spread as a result of such an opportunity, it is necessary to thoroughly implement infection prevention measures. "

Chair Wakita "The downward trend is not always remarkable."

At a press conference held after the expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Chairman Takaji Wakita commented on the current infection situation, "Among experts, the current effective reproduction number is" 0.9 ", which is a little less than 1. So, it is recognized that the downward trend is not always remarkable. The speed of decrease accelerated after the peak in the "Fifth wave" last summer, but this time it is not the case. It is possible that infections in children and the elderly are still continuing, and clusters in facilities for the elderly are continuing to occur, especially in metropolitan areas. In addition, the number of metropolitan areas is relatively decreasing. However, in rural areas, it has been declining and rising again, so it is important not to connect this to the re-spreading of the infection. "



Regarding "BA.2", one of the Omicron strains that are concerned about the spread of infection, "At today's meeting, analysis using national data revealed that" BA.2 "was the entire Omicron strain at the beginning of April. It was shown again that there is a possibility that it will be replaced by about 70% of the above. Since the infectivity is about 1.2 times higher than that of the current mainstream "BA.1", there is a risk that the total number of infected people will increase as the replacement progresses. Yes, it is necessary to closely monitor the infection status from the end of March to April. "

Number of newly infected people continues to decline 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 the 8th has continued to decrease by 0.90 times compared to the previous week.



The pace of decline has continued to be gradual, and it can be seen that it is increasing, especially in areas where priority measures such as spread prevention have been lifted or not applied.



Of the areas where priority measures were extended on the 6th of this month, in


1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures,


▽ 0.88 times in Tokyo ▽


0.97 times in Kanagawa prefecture ▽


0.90 times in Saitama prefecture ▽ 0.94 times

in


Chiba prefecture

▽ 0.79 times in Osaka prefecture ▽

0.83 times in Kyoto prefecture

▽ 0.90 times in Hyogo prefecture ▽

0.88 times in Aichi prefecture

▽ 0.82 times in Gifu prefecture, which is a decrease from the same level

.

In addition,

▽ Hokkaido is 0.82 times

▽ Tochigi prefecture is 0.81 times

▽ Gunma prefecture is 0.96 times

▽ Ishikawa prefecture is 0.91 times

▽ Shizuoka prefecture is 0.90 times

▽ Kagawa prefecture is 0.99 times, which is a decrease from the same level.

However,

▽ Aomori prefecture is 1.09 times

▽ Ibaraki prefecture is 1.13 times

▽ Kumamoto prefecture is 1.11 times, which is an increase from the previous week.

In areas where priority measures were lifted on the 6th,

▽ Niigata prefecture 0.82 times

▽ Nagano prefecture 0.99 times

▽ Mie prefecture 0.93 times





























▽ 0.80 times in Wakayama prefecture ▽


0.93 times in Okayama prefecture


▽ 0.93 times in Hiroshima prefecture ▽


0.88 times in Fukuoka prefecture ▽


0.92 times in Nagasaki prefecture ▽


1.00 times in Miyazaki prefecture


▽ 0.89 times in Kagoshima prefecture On the other hand,


▽ Fukushima prefecture is 1.18 times


▽ Kochi prefecture is 1.08 times


▽ Saga prefecture is 1.01 times, which is an increase from the previous week.



In addition, among the areas where priority measures were lifted last month,


▽ Yamagata prefecture 1.06 times


▽ Shimane prefecture 1.15 times


▽ Yamaguchi prefecture 1.13 times


▽ Okinawa prefecture 1.13 times, and



priority measures so far Even in areas where is not applied, there are places where


▽ Fukui prefecture


has increased 1.23 times ▽ Ehime prefecture has increased 1.15 times.



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


▽ Osaka prefecture has the highest number of infected people, 506.67 people,


followed


by ▽ Tokyo prefecture, 497.27 people


▽ Nara prefecture, 462.00 people


▽ Kanagawa prefecture, 451.85 people, etc. ▽

There


are 329.02 people nationwide.