The number of people infected with the new coronavirus nationwide reached a record high on the 18th, and the spread of infection continues, and the strain on medical institutions is an issue.
Under these circumstances, Yokohama City is distributing a total of 300,000 antigen test kits to medical institutions with fever outpatient clinics, and wants to encourage voluntary testing through distribution at the counter.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, people who are at low risk of becoming seriously ill and have symptoms such as fever are asked to self-test, and if they are positive, they do not go to the fever outpatient clinic and are encouraged to recuperate at home.
However, due to the difficulty in obtaining antigen test kits, many people visit fever outpatient clinics, and the city of Yokohama is distributing a total of 300,000 test kits in order to alleviate the strain on medical institutions.
Of those who visit the fever outpatient clinic, those who have a relatively low risk of becoming seriously ill will not be examined or tested, and they will distribute kits at the counter to encourage self-testing, thereby reducing the strain on medical institutions. .
Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka said, "There are quite a few people who have a fever but are at low risk of becoming seriously ill, so I want them to distribute test kits. I think it will help to solve the shortage of antigen test kits to some extent." increase.
On the other hand, regarding the antigen test kit for the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to lift the ban on online sales at a subcommittee of experts.