A meeting of experts from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on countermeasures against the new coronavirus, and although the number of new infections nationwide continues to decline in all regions, the increase in contact opportunities due to consecutive holidays and tourism is likely to increase the number of infections. He pointed out the need to be aware of the impact on the situation.



In addition, there is concern that influenza will spread earlier than usual in the winter, and there is concern about simultaneous epidemics with the new coronavirus, so it is necessary to take measures assuming simultaneous epidemics.

The expert meeting said that the infection status of the new corona will continue to decline in all regions, and that short-term forecasts for large cities may indicate a gradual decline or leveling off.



It is analyzed that the decrease in the number of people in downtown areas at night may have affected the decrease in the number of infected people due to the decrease in temperature and continuous rain.



In addition, the number of patients receiving medical treatment, severely ill patients, and the number of deaths continues to decrease, and it is said that the situation of the medical system is improving, such as the utilization rate of hospital beds decreasing.



However, in the future, it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of increased contact opportunities due to consecutive holidays and tourism on the infection status.



In addition, based on the trends of the past two years, there are concerns that the epidemic of the new coronavirus will spread this winter, and seasonal influenza will spread earlier than usual, or will spread at the same time as the corona. , it is necessary to take measures that assume such a situation.



The expert meeting then concluded that vaccines should include the first and second doses for children aged 5 to 11 years and the first and second doses for children aged 6 months to 4 years. It is said that people aged 12 and over will be vaccinated against the Omicron strain, and the Omicron strain vaccine is expected to be more effective than the conventional vaccine for both "BA.1" and "BA.5". Therefore, we are planning to proceed with the vaccination that can be done earlier.



In addition, take basic infection control measures such as wearing the correct non-woven mask and ventilation according to the situation, eating and drinking with as few people as possible and wearing a mask except when eating and drinking, and refraining from going out when you have symptoms. asked to continue.

The number of new infections continues to decline nationwide (one week until the 11th)

According to the materials presented at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting, the number of new infections nationwide in the week ending on the 11th continued to decline, 0.73 times compared to the previous week.



Among the three prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Tokyo is 0.67 times, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures are 0.69 times, and Chiba prefecture is 0.71 times, and the downward trend continues.



In Kansai, Osaka and Kyoto were 0.69 times, Hyogo was 0.73 times, and even in Tokai, Aichi was 0.61 times, Gifu was 0.66 times, and Mie was 0.78 times. more declining.



The number of infected people per 100,000 people in the last week was 233.52 in Hiroshima Prefecture, which is the highest in Japan, followed by Nagano Prefecture with 228.86 people, Hokkaido with 222.50 people, and Yamagata Prefecture with 220.31 people. Osaka prefecture has 142.92 people, Tokyo has 130.89 people, and nationwide 142.77 people.

Takaji Wakita, Chairperson: “Simultaneous epidemics have a large impact on medical care.”

At a press conference held after the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting, Takaji Wakita, chairman of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, commented on the concern that influenza and the novel coronavirus could be prevalent at the same time, saying, "Looking at the situation overseas, the epidemic of the novel coronavirus has begun in Europe and elsewhere. Influenza epidemics are also becoming apparent in some regions.If a simultaneous epidemic occurs in Japan, the impact on medical care will be large.As a necessary medical system, the elderly who are at risk of aggravation and the risk of encephalitis It may be necessary for certain children to have priority access to medical care."



Regarding other necessary measures, he said, ``Promoting vaccination against the Omicron strain and influenza is very important in order to reduce the scale of the epidemic as much as possible and prevent its severity.''



Wakita also asked the general public to respond, saying, "During the 7th wave, there were shortages of test kits and it became difficult to buy antipyretics. , Isn't it important to buy test kits and antipyretics now? It's also important to create an environment that makes it easy to purchase test kits."