An expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on measures against the new coronavirus, and pointed out that although the number of new infections nationwide has leveled off recently, there are regional differences in the infection situation.
In many areas, the number of people in downtown areas at night is increasing, and it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of increased social and economic activities toward the end of the year, which will increase opportunities for person-to-person contact. is.
The expert meeting said that the infection status of the new corona has changed from last week, which turned to an increase, and has recently leveled off, but there is an increase in Hokkaido, Tohoku, and the Chugoku region, and there are regional differences in the infection status. pointed out that there is
In addition, it is said that the number of seriously ill people and deaths has stopped falling.
Regarding the future infection situation, short-term forecasts for large cities are likely to remain flat or continue to increase. The number of people in the downtown area is increasing, and it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of increased social and economic activities toward the end of the year, which will increase opportunities for person-to-person contact.
For this reason, the expert meeting stated that it is rare for people in their 60s and older to acquire immunity from infection, and that there are concerns about the spread of infection among the elderly in the future. First, he pointed out the importance of calling for those who are 12 years of age or older to complete vaccination against the Omicron strain by the end of the year.
In addition, there are concerns about simultaneous epidemics with influenza, and assuming that there will be many fever patients, the government and local governments are requesting measures such as strengthening fever outpatient clinics and online medical examinations, and securing self-test kits. .
After that, once again, 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 masks except when eating and drinking, and refraining from going out when you have symptoms. I called on you to continue.
The number of new infections in a week is 0.96 times the previous week nationwide
According to the materials presented at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting, the number of new infections in the week until the 25th was 0.96 times higher than the previous week nationwide, which was almost flat compared to last week when it was on the rise. It is
Among the three prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area,
▽ Tokyo and Saitama prefectures were 0.94 times,
▽ Kanagawa prefecture was 0.97 times,
▽ Chiba prefecture was 0.95 times, and in
Kansai,
▽ Osaka and Kyoto prefectures were 0.88 times. ,
▽ Hyogo Prefecture continues to increase by 1.15 times.
In the Tokai region as well,
Aichi Prefecture has increased to 0.93 times,
▽ Gifu Prefecture has increased to 0.88 times, and
▽ Mie Prefecture has decreased to 0.99 times.
In addition,
▽Kagawa and Ehime prefectures increased by 1.20 times,
▽
Iwate prefecture by 1.16 times, and
▽Hokkaido by 1.13 times
.
▽ Okinawa Prefecture is 0.78 times, and there are differences in the infection status depending on the region.
The number of infected people per 100,000 people in the last week was
▽ Yamagata Prefecture, which had the highest number in Japan with 455.04 people,
followed by
▽ Hokkaido with 450.73 people,
▽ Akita Prefecture with 329.65 people, and
▽ Nagano Prefecture with 301.51 people.
▽Osaka 186.35,
▽
Tokyo 163.77,
▽ There are 190.93 people nationwide.
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato "Watch the trend of infection and the impact of increased contact opportunities"
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato said, "The number of new infections turned to increase nationwide last week, but it is currently leveling off. Future trends in infection and increased contact opportunities due to increased socioeconomic activity. We need to pay attention to the impact,” he said.
In addition, in order to respond to the possibility of future spread of infection and simultaneous epidemics with seasonal influenza, we will promote strengthening and prioritizing the health care system in order to provide appropriate medical care to the elderly and people at high risk of becoming seriously ill. I will continue.”
Wakita chairman ``Careful even if the infection calms down''
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 current infection status, saying, "There were areas such as Hokkaido and Tohoku where the number of infected people was increasing due to the consecutive holidays, but nationwide. In areas where there were few infected people in the 7th wave, it is easy to increase because immunity due to natural infection is weakened, and conversely, infected people like Okinawa Prefecture The data also showed that it would be difficult to expand in areas where there were many. We need to watch carefully how it will increase," he said.
Regarding the simultaneous epidemic of the new coronavirus and influenza, he said, "There are no signs of an influenza epidemic yet, and we do not know when the epidemic will start. It is important to proceed with both the corresponding vaccine and influenza vaccine, and to prepare corona antigen test kits and antipyretics as things that can be done at home."