In response to the increasing number of people infected with the new coronavirus,

which is ``entering a new wave of infection,'' Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government subcommittee, has indicated that he is entering the ``eighth wave'' of the spread of infection.

I'm here.



Breakout meeting held on the 11th.

In preparation for the "8th wave," we approved a new response policy that puts more emphasis on the medical situation and summarizes measures for each level.

At the meeting, the government discussed a proposal for a response policy that summarizes measures for each level according to the infection situation, such as setting the summer "7th wave" or higher as a level 3 "infection spread period". .



However, an expert suggested that the level should be set with an emphasis on the situation of outpatient care, so I approved it after reviewing the position of the level.



In the new response policy, out of the 5 levels, there is no "level 0" where there are no infected people.



In addition, the period when outpatients are flooded with patients and those who are at high risk of becoming severely ill cannot immediately see a doctor is positioned as Level 3, the "increased medical burden period."

On top of that, at Level 3, prefectures will issue a "declaration of strengthened measures", and if they have symptoms, they will be able to request careful behavior, such as refraining from going out or refraining from participating in dinners with a large number of people. Did.



Furthermore, the most serious level 4 is the "medical dysfunction period" in which the entire medical system is dysfunctional, and it is possible to make stronger requests such as drastic restrictions on going to work, self-restraint of returning home and traveling, and postponement of events. I'm here.



The government will show this policy to the prefectures, and will consider the timing of starting operation while assessing the future infection situation.

Goto, the minister in charge of measures against the novel coronavirus, said, "We would like to promptly present the revision of the level to the prefectures. The number of new infections is on the rise nationwide, and in some areas there is a significant increase. , I would like to ask for preparations such as fever outpatient clinics, online medical examinations, and expansion of health follow-up centers."

Chairman Omi "We should respond without issuing a declaration even at level 4"

At the press conference after the meeting on the 11th, Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government subcommittee, explained that the subcommittee basically approved the draft of the government's response policy. He emphasized that it is necessary to take measures to avoid a situation in which medical care malfunctions.



In this, Chairman Omi commented on the outlook for the 8th wave, saying, "If we continue to develop a medical system suitable for Omicron strains, promote vaccination, prepare antigen test kits, and thoroughly implement basic measures for individuals, we will continue to do so. I think it is possible to avoid a situation where the situation is tight."



Then, Chairman Omi explained that


level 3 is positioned as a ``increased medical burden period''

and level 4 is positioned as a


``medical insufficiency period .''


The strong response to be given is positioned as what should be done to avoid such a situation when the infection spreads further and the medical system is likely to malfunction even if the measures that have been taken so far are firmly implemented. It is a countermeasure to prepare for the worst.We have learned many countermeasures from our response so far, and vaccination has spread.Even if the situation reaches level 4, we will declare a state of emergency and prevent the spread of infection. The discussion at the subcommittee was that we should respond without taking priority measures."

4 levels What is the new response policy?

In the new response policy approved by the government's subcommittee, the response that was previously divided into five levels should be divided into four levels based mainly on the burden on the medical system based on the characteristics of Omicron stock. is shown.



Although the infection status is used as a reference when determining the level of infection, prefectures make comprehensive decisions based on the medical burden and socioeconomic activity.

[Level 1] Remission of infection

Level 1, which corresponds to the "infection lull period", is a stage in which the bed occupancy rate of the maximum number of available beds is roughly 0% to 30%, and the burden on medical care is small for both outpatients and inpatients.



In preparation for a simultaneous epidemic with influenza, the government should take measures such as


▽ vaccination,


▽ purchase of test kits and antipyretic analgesics so that you can handle yourself when you have a fever, and


▽ thorough basic infection control measures. , We are asking prefectures to develop a fever outpatient and online medical treatment system.

[Level 2] Early stage of infection spread

Level 2, which corresponds to the "early stage of the spread of infection", is the stage when the number of fever outpatients increases rapidly and the load begins to increase.



The number of emergency outpatients has increased, and the hospital bed occupancy rate is about 30% to 50%.As the number of infected people begins to increase rapidly, the number of absentees in the workplace also begins to increase, and some businesses have trouble continuing their work. I'm about to start.



The measures that the government should take are:


▽ Calling for cooperation so that people at risk of becoming seriously ill can be examined,


▽ Further promoting vaccination against Omicron strains,


▽ Effective implementation at medical institutions, facilities for the elderly, schools, etc. In addition to requesting infection control, we will request cooperation from medical institutions regarding the acceptance of patients.

[Level 3] Increased medical burden

Level 3, which corresponds to the ``increased medical burden'', is the elderly who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, such as the ``7th wave'' of this summer, when the medical burden increases and many patients rush to the fever and emergency departments. are unable to seek medical attention immediately, and the number of cases in which it is difficult to transport them by ambulance is rapidly increasing.



The bed occupancy rate and the occupancy rate of beds for critically ill patients should generally exceed 50%.



In addition, there are many business operators who have a large number of absentees at work, making it difficult to continue operations, and the absence of medical staff at key medical institutions will increase rapidly.



At level 3, prefectures with a large spread of infection will declare a "strengthening of countermeasures" and take measures to prevent the spread of infection, although they will not restrict movement.



Residents can be asked to act more cautiously,


specifically,


▽ If you have symptoms that are different from usual, refrain from going out, going to work, or attending school, etc.


▽ Crowded places or places with high infection risk It includes refraining from actions that lead to the spread of infection, such as going to places,


and


making careful judgments, including refraining from participating in large-scale dinners and large-scale events.



Furthermore, in order to maintain the medical system, we will ask medical institutions to operate as much as possible so that medical staff who have been in close contact can go to work even during the waiting period, and elderly facilities where clusters are likely to occur. It also calls for intensive inspections in

[Level 4] Medical dysfunction stage

Furthermore, the situation worsened at level 4, which corresponds to the "medical dysfunction period", where a huge number of infected people appeared, and the fever outpatient department and emergency outpatient department could not cope, and the general outpatient department was flooded with patients, and an ambulance was requested. It is positioned as a “level to be avoided” in a situation where the entire medical care, including ordinary medical care, is under pressure and dysfunctional.



The number of absentees will be enormous, and it is possible that the maintenance of social infrastructure will be hindered. Aim for more than 80%.



If it reaches level 4, or if the speed of the spread of infection is so rapid that countermeasures cannot keep up with it, and it is judged that it is moving to level 4, the prefecture will issue a "medical emergency declaration" and will inform residents and businesses. It is possible to make a stronger request to reduce contact with people.



Under the declaration of a medical emergency,


▽ request that going out and movement be limited to essential things, such as drastic restrictions on going to work and refraining from going home and traveling, and


▽ events that do not require restaurants and facilities to operate short hours. will be postponed, and


▽ we will ask for a careful response, such as changing the holding method of club activity competitions and school events, although school classes will continue in principle.



In addition, the national government will dispatch medical personnel from the national government and other regions as a disaster medical response.

Increase in the number of people visiting fever outpatient clinics

Tokyo announced on the 11th that it confirmed that 7,899 people were newly infected with the new coronavirus.

It's the 7th straight day that it's outperformed the same day of the previous week.



With the spread of infections nationwide, the number of people visiting clinics in Tokyo that have fever outpatient clinics has increased since the beginning of this month. After understanding the government's measures to do and recuperate at home, we are calling for you to prepare test kits and antipyretics.

At the Tamura Clinic, a clinic in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, a fever outpatient clinic is set up in an outdoor passage in addition to the usual examination room, and a total of 13 men and women aged 1 to 81 were examined in the morning of the 11th. 10 people were confirmed to be infected.

At the clinic, even when the number of infected people in a day was high in October, there were 8 cases, but this week there are more than 10 cases a day.



Many of the people confirmed to be infected were not infected in the "7th wave", and it seems that most of them were infected with the Omicron strain "BA.5", while the Omicron strain mutant virus "XBB" Some people were suspected of being infected.



Amid concerns about the simultaneous epidemic of influenza, the clinic said that people with a low risk of becoming seriously ill will be tested with an antigen test kit and treated at home so that children and elderly people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill can be examined. After understanding the government's measures, we are calling for you to prepare test kits and antipyretics.

Director Tsuyoshi Tamura said, "I would like to ask for your cooperation, such as confirming what kind of flow is desirable for yourself so that those who need it can be examined immediately."