On the 7th, the government shortened the medical treatment period for patients infected with the new coronavirus.
For those who have symptoms, the treatment period will be changed from 10 days to 7 days.
Is it okay to wait 7 days after symptoms appear?
It used to be 10 days, but is there a scientific basis for shortening it?
Some experts say that even after 7 days, there is a risk of infecting the people around you, and there is an opinion calling for careful action.
We have summarized the information we know so far, such as points to be careful about.
How has the shortened treatment period changed?
In response to Prime Minister Kishida's policy to shorten the medical treatment period for infected people, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare notified the prefectures of the specific idea of reviewing the medical treatment period on the night of the 7th.
The duration of treatment has already been shortened.
<New period of treatment>
▽Those who have symptoms
If 7 days have passed since the day after the onset of symptoms and 24 hours have passed since the symptoms subsided, treatment can be canceled from the 8th day.
▽ Asymptomatic person
If the test kit is confirmed to be negative on the 5th day from the date of sample collection, the medical treatment can be canceled from the 6th day.
(However, since the risk of infection remains for 10 days for those with symptoms and 7 days for asymptomatic people, thorough infection prevention measures are being taken, such as avoiding contact with elderly people and eating together.)
▽ People who are in hospitals or facilities for the elderly
Same as before.
If 10 days have passed since the day after the onset of symptoms and 72 hours or more have passed since the symptoms subsided, treatment can be canceled from the 11th day.
The reason for "7 days" is
What data was used to make the decision to shorten the duration of treatment for those with symptoms from 10 days to 7 days?
According to the data presented at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting held on the 7th, when the viral load of 59 people who were infected and had symptoms was examined, if the day of onset was set to "0 days", It is said that the amount of virus from the 7th to the 13th decreased to "about 1/6" compared to the amount up to the 3rd day.
(Survey conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases from November 2021 to January 2022, when the Omicron strain BA
. , the risk of spreading the infection is considered to be decreasing."
There is a risk of infection even after “7 days”
In this survey, we are also investigating how many days from the person who developed the virus can be detected.
If the day of onset is "day 0", the percentage of people with the virus detected is
▽ 1st day: 96.3%
▽ 2nd day: 87.1%
▽ 3rd day: 74.3%
▽ 4th day Day 60.3%
▽ 5th day 46.5%
▽ 6th day 34.1%
7th day 23.9%
8th day 16.0%
9th day 10.2 %
▽10th day: 6.2%
▽11th day: 3.6%
▽12th day: 2.0%
▽13th day: 1.1%
▽14th day: 0.6% did.
On the 8th day, when medical treatment was lifted by the new review, the virus was detected in more than 10% of people.
In addition, Professor Hiroshi Nishiura of Kyoto University introduced research by groups such as Harvard University in the United States at the expert meeting on the 7th.
In this study, the virus was detected in more than half of the people on the fifth day after the onset of symptoms, and in 25% of the people on the eighth day.
Professor Nishiura says that the infection may spread even after a certain period of time has passed since the onset of symptoms.
From experts, "opinion to accept" and "opinion against"
At the expert meeting, there were opinions that accepted and opposed the shortened medical treatment period indicated by the government.
▽
Opinion to accept
``It is known that the infectiousness is highest in the first seven days after the onset of symptoms''
``It is also necessary to maintain medical and social functions
'
' It is beyond the scientifically permissible range to decide to end medical treatment when the risk of infection exceeds 10%.”
In addition, medical institutions and elderly people who have a lot of contact with people at high risk of becoming seriously ill It is said that the opinion that the treatment period should not be shortened at the nursing home was also shown.
Professor Nishiura of Kyoto University said, ``Since it is greatly affected by what kind of infection control measures are taken after the eighth day, it is difficult to numerically show the impact on the infection situation, but at least from one person to how many people. The "reproduction number", which indicates whether the infection spreads, will rise.As a result, when the epidemic wave after the 8th wave occurs, the number of infected people will increase more quickly, which will likely cause medical shortages and ambulances. It will be easier to be in a situation where you can't call," he said.
What is the situation overseas?
What is the medical treatment period for infected people abroad?
According to the summary of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
<USA>
▽ Asymptomatic person: 5 days isolation.
▽ Mild person: 5 days of isolation + 24 hours after fever subsides + improvement of symptoms.
*In each case, households should wear masks in public places until the 10th day, and avoid contact with people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill until the 11th day.
▽Moderately/severely ill people, people with immunodeficiency: Quarantine for 10 days or more (consult an expert for the release date).
<UK>
▽ All patients: Quarantine for 5 days.
*For 10 days, avoid contact with people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, avoid crowded places, and take basic infection control measures such as wearing a mask, hand hygiene, and cough etiquette.
<France>
▽Persons who have completed vaccination (or under 12 years old): Quarantine for 7 days.
48 hours after symptoms improve + 5 days quarantine if test negative.
▽ Persons who have not been vaccinated or who have not been vaccinated: 10-day isolation 48 hours after symptoms improve + 7-day isolation if the test is negative.
* Wear a mask and observe hygiene measures for 7 days after the quarantine is lifted.
Depending on the country, the response is divided, such as changing the treatment period depending on the severity and the presence or absence of vaccination.
Remaining risk of infection "Please explain clearly"
If symptoms appear, the risk of infecting more than 10% of people remains even on the eighth day when treatment is lifted.
How should we think about this?
Takaji Wakita, the chairman of the expert panel, said at a press conference on the 7th, "It is important to communicate clearly that there is still a certain risk of infection if the period of medical treatment is shortened. Each person takes the initiative to become infected. It is necessary to take measures to reduce the risk of infection.I think it is also necessary to inform the public in an easy-to-understand manner what kind of actions are desirable."
At the meeting, volunteer experts made recommendations. Since the risk of infection remains until the 10th day, infection control measures should be taken when going out, medical workers and staff at elderly facilities who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill. He pointed out that it is necessary to confirm a negative test before returning when responding.
Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government subcommittee, also said on the 8th, "If the government says that seven days is enough, it's not completely safe. In fact, many people are aware of the reality that the risk of spreading the infection remains. The general public must be made aware of it, and it is the government's responsibility to communicate it." "I would like people to have a common understanding that there is a risk, and then take action in response to the risk. The virus is spreading. Until it is gone from the body, it is necessary to refrain from high-risk activities such as meeting with elderly people."
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has also notified local governments that until 10 days have passed since the onset of
symptoms, they should check their own health conditions, such as by taking their temperature, and avoid contact with people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, such as the elderly, or visiting facilities. Avoid visiting places where there is a high risk of infection, avoid eating out, and wear a mask.
Be aware of the risk and act after the 7th day
The duration of treatment has been shortened, but the nature of the virus itself has not changed.
Even after the 7th day, it is required to act with awareness of the risk of infecting other people.