As the new corona virus continues to spread rapidly, local governments around the world are busy responding.
Rapid increase in home medical care in Tokyo, applications for food delivery support
As the number of people who are infected with the new coronavirus and are recuperating at home is increasing rapidly, applications are being received one after another for local governments in Tokyo that are conducting support projects to deliver food to those recuperating at home.
In Tokyo, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus and recuperating at home is increasing rapidly. It's more than double the comparison.
Under these circumstances, some local governments in Tokyo are running a project to provide food for several days until supplies arrive from Tokyo to those who have no food at home and have difficulty receiving support from relatives. increase.
Hino City also resumed its support project on July 26, but as the number of new coronavirus infections spread rapidly, applications were received one after another every day, and by July 29, 118 people had been delivered.
On August 1, a delivery company commissioned by the city loaded cardboard boxes containing rice porridge and jelly into a car and left for the homes of those who wanted them.
The city prepares an inventory for 80 people every day so that food can be delivered immediately, but if the number of applications increases in the future, the replenishment will not be able to keep up and the inventory may run out.
Atsuko Taira, head of Hino City's health section, said, "As an emergency response, city officials are procuring food and replenishing inventories to get through it. It's a tough situation, but we want to do what we can to help curb the spread of infection." I was.
Free distribution of test kits in Tokyo Start of acceptance for expanded target audience
In an effort to reduce the burden on medical institutions, which are concentrating on testing and consultations for the new coronavirus, the Tokyo metropolitan government has expanded the scope of free test kit distribution to people with symptoms such as fever, and will accept them from August 1st. started.
The type of antigen test kit that will be distributed free of charge is a type of antigen test kit that allows you to take a sample of your own nasal mucosa.
Until now, the metropolitan government has been distributing test kits free of charge to those who have had close contact with them, but with the spread of infection, the concentration of tests and consultations at medical institutions has led to symptoms such as fever. I expanded the target to people with.
70,000 kits will be prepared per day, and those who wish to apply will be delivered the next day if they apply by the morning.
The city will first accept applications from people in their 20s, who have a high proportion of infected people and a low risk of becoming severe, and will gradually expand the target to other age groups.
If the kit is found to be positive, it will be possible to apply online to the "Positive Person Registration Center" to be opened by the metropolitan government on August 3, and the metropolitan government will support health observations based on this information. increase.
A person in charge of the metropolitan government said, "The results of the kit are available immediately, so we can make a smooth decision. If you are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, please register at the positive person registration center. I would like people with severe symptoms to consult a medical institution without hesitation."
Kanagawa fever outpatient situation continues
Kanagawa Prefecture is calling on people who are at low risk of severe illness to not visit a fever outpatient clinic and self-examine and self-recuperate in order to prevent medical care from being overwhelmed by the rapid spread of the new corona infection. Due to the fact that there are many cases where doctors are required to make a positive diagnosis, the fever outpatient situation continues to be tight.
Kanagawa Prefecture calls on people who are at low risk of becoming seriously ill, such as those who have no other illnesses, not to visit fever clinics, but to self-test and self-treat if positive.
However, the shortage of fever outpatient clinics continues in various places, and at a clinic in Tama Ward, Kawasaki City, which treats about 40 fever outpatients a day, about 120 people are forced to refuse.
According to the clinic, even if the symptoms are mild, there are many people who are told by their workplace or school that they need a positive medical certificate, so last week, about one-third of the people who visited It means that it was a case where it seems that there was no problem even with self-treatment.
Hiroki Ohashi, director of the Tama Family Clinic, said, ``If you don't narrow down the people who need to see a doctor, you won't be able to see the elderly or those with underlying diseases, so you should avoid visiting medical institutions as much as possible and recuperate at home. I need a response to get it."
Kanagawa Prefecture Voluntary Treatment Notification System
In order to encourage the widespread use of voluntary treatment when infected with the new coronavirus, Kanagawa Prefecture is asking companies and schools in the prefecture to cooperate not to ask them to visit a medical institution when they report for voluntary treatment. I am requesting.
In the self-treatment notification system that Kanagawa Prefecture has been conducting since January this year, ahead of the rest of the country, if a person with a low risk of severe illness develops symptoms such as fever, he or she can self-test using a commercially available antigen test kit. If you test positive and report it to the prefectural government on a dedicated website, you
will be able to obtain a "self-recuperation report" that proves you are under medical treatment, and a
"medical treatment certificate" that can be used for private insurance claims. ”
can be issued.
The prefecture believes that about half of the infected people can be treated by self-treatment, but since the system started, the number of new coronavirus infections from January 29 to July 31 was over 790,000. On the other hand, only about 60,000 people have been issued a voluntary medical treatment notification.
When symptoms appear, workplaces and schools often ask them to see a medical institution, and the prefecture is cooperating with companies and organizations in the prefecture not to ask them to see a doctor if they report that they are self-medicating. , and on August 1st, the person in charge called groups in the prefecture for cooperation.
Takashi Adachihara, head of the Kanagawa Prefectural Medical Emergency Response Headquarters, said, "In order to allocate limited medical resources to people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, we ask those who are able to cooperate with self-treatment."
Miyagi Temporary department takes over part of public health center support work
With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus and the burden on public health centers, Miyagi Prefecture has set up a temporary department to take over part of the work of the public health center, and the staff in charge of those who have been confirmed to be positive. I was being chased by the confirmation work of the symptoms.
Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus in Miyagi Prefecture, the burden on public health centers that conduct health observations and hospitalization adjustments has increased. , we are working to support public health centers.
In this department, staff gathered from various departments of the prefectural government will act as a proxy for the work of the public health center, and after confirming the symptoms and the presence or absence of underlying diseases, hospitalization will be required for those who have been confirmed to be positive. decide whether
On August 1, after about 30 people who were temporarily gathered from the civil engineering department and the board of education received training, they called each positive person and asked about their symptoms.
From July 28, the prefecture is working to reduce the burden on public health centers by switching from phone calls to emails for contacting patients with a low risk of becoming seriously ill.
Kazuaki Watanabe, Assistant General Manager of the Prefectural Novel Coronavirus Coordination Office, said, "The 7th wave is far beyond imagination, and the work of the public health center is in a difficult situation.In the future, we will use email correspondence, etc., to provide prompt and appropriate treatment for many patients. I would like to try to guide you," he said.
Nurse dispatched from the national government to Okinawa "hospitalization waiting station"
From August 1, nurses dispatched from the national government entered the prefecture's "hospitalization waiting station", which temporarily accepts people who cannot find a hospital where they can be hospitalized immediately, as the spread of the new coronavirus continues in Okinawa Prefecture. I worked on increasing the number of hospital beds.
As the spread of the new coronavirus continues to spread in Okinawa Prefecture, and the medical system is under pressure, 46 nurses from the national government will be dispatched to the "hospitalization waiting station" in Naha City, which was established by the prefecture. , From August 1, 11 people are engaged in nursing work.
The dispatched nurses prepared sheets and futons to secure beds.
The "Hospital Waiting Station" will increase the number of beds from 50 to 75 this week.
At the headquarters of the hospital waiting station, staff members were in contact with the task force within the prefectural office to coordinate hospitalization.
In addition, from the monitor that can check all beds, it was possible to see medical staff wearing protective clothing responding to patients.
Midori Miyake, a nurse working at a hospital in Kobe City, who was dispatched from the government to the "hospitalization waiting station" from August 1, said, "There are people who are unable to come to work, such as being in close contact with medical workers. We received a request for temporary staffing because of the need to secure human resources as the number increased. Although there are some concerns about the new facilities and environment, we would like to help medical care in Okinawa, even if just a little."
Similarly, Mirai Sone, a nurse dispatched from a hospital in Sendai City, said, "I also work in the new corona ward of a hospital in Sendai City, so I don't think the patient base will change, but how will it be outside the prefecture and in Okinawa? I would like to have a good experience by learning what it is like to see a patient."
Mami Goda, a nurse who has been working at the "hospitalization waiting station" for a long time, said, "It's been calmer than it was for a while, but the existing members are doing their best to safely provide medical care to the current patients. Every day feels hectic, and I can hardly even take a break,” he complained of the difficult situation.
Taishi Gima, a nursing supervisor who coordinates nurses at the "hospitalization waiting station," commented on the dispatch of nurses from the national government, saying, "I think it's really helpful because I think they'll be ready to work. Alleviating the pressure on medical care in the prefecture. I would like to move forward together and face the wave of infection so that I can contribute to ."
On top of that, he said to the residents of the prefecture and others, "If you take the same measures as before, you can prevent what can be prevented. I want you to be careful again." I was calling you to check it out.
Okayama public health center business tightness Significant change in contact method for infected people
With the spread of the new coronavirus, the work of public health centers is under pressure, so Okayama City has changed the method of contacting infected people significantly from the 1st.
In Okayama City, the number of new infected people exceeded 1,000 every day until July 31, and the work of public health centers is under pressure.
Until now, all people who have been confirmed positive were sent a text message confirming the infection, and in principle, they were contacted by phone within 24 hours to check their physical condition. , It was said that it took two days to call.
Up to now, about 70 staff members from other departments have been supporting us, but from August 1st, we increased the number of staff by about 50 and changed the method of contacting infected people significantly.
Specifically,
▽ For those with a relatively low risk of becoming seriously ill, we will only send text messages and will not check individual health conditions by phone.
On the other hand,
public health nurses and nurses will continue to call individually to check the physical condition of people at high risk of severe illness, such as the elderly and those with underlying diseases, as well as those working in facilities for the elderly. do.
Kozo Mori, head of Okayama City's health management department, said, "There is a risk of infection wherever you are, so I would like to ask you to wear a mask indoors and get vaccinated again."
In Okayama City, even if you do not receive a phone call to confirm your physical condition, if you have any concerns or want to inquire, please contact the city's medical consultation center, phone number 086-803-1360.