The government has decided to introduce a mechanism that strongly calls for infection control measures such as early vaccination by each prefecture issuing its own "declaration of strengthening measures".
At facilities for the elderly in Tokyo, there are cases where there is no choice but to treat severely ill elderly people who should be hospitalized at a medical institution.
According to the summary of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of clusters confirmed at facilities for the elderly nationwide reached 337 in the 6 days until July 24, 41 more than the previous week, and the expert meetings will be centered on the elderly in the future. There are concerns that more people will be seriously ill or die.
In the sixth wave of infection, there were a number of cases in which hospitalization was not possible due to the tightness of the bed and there was no choice but to receive medical treatment in the facility. Therefore, efforts are being made to treat the elderly by dispatching doctors to the facility in various places.
Dr. Yoichi Suzuki, a clinic in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, visits and examines patients with the new corona who are admitted to a facility for the elderly in the ward.
Of these, at the elderly facility visited on the 26th of this month, when treating a woman in her 90s who is using an oxygen inhaler, she talks to the woman lying in her bed to check the oxygen status and administer antibiotics. I was injecting.
According to doctors, the woman developed symptoms in the middle of this month, and on the day of her symptoms, the oxygen level in her blood reached 79%, and she was judged to be in a dangerous condition and requested an ambulance.
However, she couldn't find a destination after more than four hours, so she had to order an oxygen inhaler and continue treatment in the facility.
At the three facilities for the elderly, where Dr. Suzuki is in charge of home visits, there are a total of about 15 Corona patients who need continuous medical examination, and two of them, including this woman, are hospitalized due to poor respiratory and nutritional status. Was in a desirable condition, but he could not be hospitalized due to the tightness of the bed.
Dr. Suzuki of the Itabashi Ward Office front clinic said, "Even elderly people who should be hospitalized are now in a state of being able to receive treatment that can be done at the facility because they can not enter anywhere. In the 5th and 6th waves, the staff of the facility also As medical professionals have gained experience, their responsiveness has improved and they are holding up now, but if the infection spreads further, there may be situations where they cannot tolerate it. "
Rapid increase in home recuperators, flooded with home visit requests
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection and the rapid increase in the number of home care recipients, requests are flooding the doctors who make home visits.
A group of doctors listen carefully to the symptoms and respond to them so that they do not miss patients at risk of serious illness.
"Fast Doctor," a group of doctors who visit emergency patients at night and on holidays, is flooded with requests for home visits due to the spread of infection, and on many days it may be necessary to decline more than 200 cases. That is.
At the call center, we asked in detail whether the patient had symptoms and urgency, and whether it was difficult to go to the hospital on their own so that medical care could be provided to those at high risk of aggravation.
In addition, the group of doctors also visits home-care patients who are judged to need direct medical examination by the local government, but the number of requests is increasing rapidly, so it may be necessary to limit general acceptance. It is said that there is.
The reservation was temporarily suspended even after 7 pm when I visited for the interview.
In addition, it is said that there are an increasing number of home care recipients who need to be hospitalized but cannot immediately decide on a medical institution to accept them.
Of these, a man in his 90s who was receiving medical treatment at home in Tokyo had a fever for more than a week, and although he wanted to be hospitalized, the doctor who visited the hospital reported the patient's symptoms by telephone to the health center. After that, he told me that he needed to be hospitalized.
Dr. Ryo Kikuchi, the representative of "Fast Doctor", said, "The number of infected people is increasing rapidly, and it is difficult to accept all of them. We would like to strengthen" triage "so that we can provide medical care to people at high risk of aggravation." I'm talking to you.
Rapid increase in home recuperators in Tokyo more than 10 times as many as July 1st
Due to the explosive spread of the infection, the number of people receiving medical treatment at home in Tokyo has increased rapidly, reaching about 179,000 as of the 28th.
Since there were about 17,000 people on July 1, it has increased by 10.6 times in July alone.
On July 21, it exceeded the peak of the 6th wave with more than 100,000 people, and has been renewing the highest number since then.
In addition, the number of people who are adjusting whether to be hospitalized or to receive medical treatment at home or accommodation was about 70,000 as of 28th, which is 11.5 times that of July 1.
Masataka Inoguchi, vice chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Association, who is analyzing the medical care provision system in Tokyo at the monitoring meeting held on the 28th, said, "The number of medical treatment people has increased significantly, and currently about 1 in 60 people in Tokyo Those who are positive for the test are treated at hospitalization, accommodation, or at home. The ratio of all medical treatment persons is about 96%, which is about 96% of those who are adjusting for hospitalization / medical treatment with home medical treatment. " I point out.
In many places, we are busy responding to the rapid spread of infection.
Saitama Operation of a system that can make a positive judgment at home
In order to reduce the burden on medical institutions, Saitama Prefecture will receive a doctor's diagnosis online after mailing an antigen test kit to your home if you cannot make an appointment for a test or medical treatment at a medical institution due to symptoms such as fever. , We operate a system that can judge positive.
The target is people under the age of 50 who have no underlying disease and have a relatively low risk of aggravation.
If you have symptoms such as fever and cannot make an appointment for a test or medical treatment at a medical institution, you can apply on the website and the antigen test kit will be delivered to your home in about two days.
If the test kit is positive, you can get a doctor's diagnosis online through the prefecture's website.
According to the prefecture, this system has been in operation since July 20th, and the maximum number that can be distributed is 2000 per day, but it has reached the maximum every day.
For this reason, Saitama Prefecture is considering increasing the maximum number, including inspection kits that will be distributed by the national government.
Free distribution of Gunma test kit
Gunma Prefecture plans to operate a system from early August to mail test kits to people under the age of 60 who have no underlying illness and a low risk of aggravation and who have symptoms such as fever. is.
The number of test kits prepared per day and the specific procedure after the test are currently under discussion with the Gunma Medical Association.
Gunma Prefecture wants to reduce the burden of visiting medical institutions for examinations through this initiative.
Rapid increase in reservations for large-scale inoculation venues in Miyagi
At large-scale vaccination venues such as Miyagi Prefecture, reservations are increasing rapidly before the end of the 31st, and many people are visiting for vaccination.
The large-scale vaccination site set up by Miyagi Prefecture and Tohoku University in the building at the east exit of Sendai Station has received about 2000 vaccinations a day, but it will end in 31 days.
According to the prefecture, the number of advance reservations has increased sharply since the 22nd of this month due to the rapid spread of the new corona infection in the prefecture and the expansion of the fourth vaccination target to medical staff and staff of facilities for the elderly. As of 3:00 pm on the 29th, the reservation is filled until the 31st of the last day.
Many people visited the venue and were vaccinated one after another.
A man in his 70s who received the fourth vaccination said, "Family other than myself was vaccinated at a clinic near my house, but it is difficult for people who do not have time. It is okay to have less waiting time here." I did.
A man in his thirties who received the third vaccination said, "I always take it at this venue because I don't have a family doctor. I think it will be difficult to find a hospital by myself if it disappears." ..
Since August, the prefecture has been calling for vaccinations at mass vaccination venues and medical institutions in each municipality, but in the future, if it becomes necessary to take measures such as further expanding the vaccination target, we will consider reopening large-scale vaccination venues. And then.
Inventory reduction of antigen test kits at Shizuoka pharmacy
At pharmacies in Shizuoka City, more and more people are asking for a test kit for the new coronavirus, but wholesalers are restricting delivery, raising a sense of crisis as to whether or not the stock will run out in front of the tray.
At pharmacies in Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, the number of people buying antigen test kits began to increase this week, and last month there were only a few in a month, but this week alone, 13 have already been sold.
The inventory of inspection kits from the two manufacturers sold at this store has been reduced to around 10.
It is expected that more people will buy more for homecoming and travel in the coming Obon season, but on the 28th, when I placed an additional order with a pharmaceutical wholesaler, ▽ 5 pieces from one manufacturer It is said that it will take about 2 weeks to deliver the product of another manufacturer.
Hiroshi Suzuki, a pharmacist at Yamauchi Pharmacy, said, "This demand for test kits is a phenomenon that has never been seen before. I am worried that the manufacturer will be able to manufacture it in time."
Expert "Need to break the vicious circle in the middle of the 7th wave"
Professor Kazuhiro Tateda of Toho University, a member of the government's subcommittee on measures against the new coronavirus, said about the current infection situation, "The number of infected people is increasing explosively nationwide, and we are in the middle of the 7th wave. However, screams were heard from the tight medical institutions and nursing homes, and social functions were beginning to be impaired. We must somehow break this vicious cycle, "he said.
On top of that, "If the infection continues to spread at this pace and the number of infected people per day increases from 300,000 to 400,000 people nationwide and from 50,000 to 60,000 people in Tokyo alone, medical collapse and major social dysfunction will occur. If we don't turn to a declining trend within the next week or two, we will have to impose strong restrictions on our behavior. "
And, "It is being tested whether each person can survive this 7th wave without imposing strong behavioral restrictions by thoroughly taking measures against infection. From now on, it will be time for travel such as returning to Obon, but the movement of people It is important to have a test and vaccination before traveling, as the risk of spreading the infection increases as the number of people increases. Also, use the mask effectively, avoid 3 congestion, and ventilate. If you feel unwell, please refrain from traveling or eating out. "
The number of newly infected people is the highest ever in 37 prefectures on average per week
Comparing the number of new infections with the new coronavirus on average for one week, it was the highest ever in 37 prefectures, and in 6 prefectures, it has more than doubled from the previous week, and the number continues to increase rapidly. I am.
Based on the number of infected people announced by local governments in each region, NHK has summarized the trend of the average number of newly infected people per week compared to the previous week.
Whole country
▽ In the week until June 30, the pace of increase continued to increase, 1.23 times compared to the previous week,
▽ 1.78 times on July 7,
and 2.13 times on July 14.
▽ July 21st was 1.72 times,
▽ By 28th, it was 1.67 times, and although the pace slowed down a little, it continues to increase rapidly.
The average number of new infections per day was approximately 191177, a record high following the previous week.
As of the 28th, the weekly average number of new infections was the highest ever in 37 prefectures, of which 6 prefectures were more than double the previous week.
Okinawa Prefecture
▽ The week until July 14 is 1.57 times that of the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.38 times, and
▽ By 28th is 1.27 times.
The number of newly infected people per day is about 4717, which is the highest ever, and the number of infected people per 100,000 population in the last week is 2249.98, which is the highest in the whole country.
1 prefecture 3 prefectures
[Tokyo]
▽ The week until July 14 is 2.21 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.66 times, and
▽ By 28th is 1.66 times, and the rapid increase continues.
The number of newly infected people per day is about 31,318, which is the highest ever.
[Kanagawa Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.24 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.85 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.48 times, the
number of new infections per day is the highest ever There are about 13,138 people.
[Saitama Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.32 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.85 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.82 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 11,203 people.
[Chiba]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.26 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.79 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.81 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 9061 people.
Kansai
[Osaka]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.24 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.80 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.61 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 19,939 people.
[Kyoto]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.32 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.58 times,
▽ By 28th is 2.01 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 4468 people.
[Hyogo Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.20 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.82 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.77 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 9181 people.
Tokai
[Aichi Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.34 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.84 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.65 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 12,677 people.
[Gifu Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.06 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.72 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.63 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 2223 people.
[Mie Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.11 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.56 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.93 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 2236 people.
Other areas
[Hokkaido]
▽ Week until July 14 is 1.56 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 2.00 times,
▽ By 28th is 2.18 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is about the highest ever There are 4428 people.
[Miyagi Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 1.89 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 2.02 times,
▽ By 28th is 2.09 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 2388 people.
[Hiroshima Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 1.77 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.67 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.80 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 2454 people.
[Fukuoka Prefecture]
▽ Week until July 14 is 2.24 times the previous week,
▽ July 21 is 1.76 times,
▽ By 28th is 1.71 times, the
number of newly infected people per day is the highest ever There are about 11,434 people.
In addition,
▽ Ibaraki prefecture is 2.22 times the previous week until the 28th,
▽ Niigata prefecture is 2.39 times,
▽ Toyama prefecture is 2.01 times,
which is more than double, both of which are the highest number of infected people ever. It is a number.