An expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on countermeasures against the new coronavirus, and pointed out that although the rate of increase in the number of infected people nationwide has been relatively slow, it is expected to continue to increase.
In areas where the number of infected people has increased, such as Hokkaido, an increase in the number of deaths has been seen, and it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of the replacement with a mutated virus, which is said to easily escape immunity, and the increase in contact opportunities toward the end of the year. and
The expert meeting said that although the current infection situation continues to increase nationwide, the speed is relatively slow, and Hokkaido, which has surpassed the peak of the "seventh wave" this summer, has recently decreased. I think it's turning into
However, in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kinki, Kyushu, and Okinawa, the range of increase is large, and in areas where the number of infected people has increased significantly, such as Hokkaido and Nagano prefectures, an increase in the number of deaths can be seen. is.
In the short-term forecast of the future infection situation, it is expected that the increase will continue nationwide, although there are regional differences and uncertainties, and it is expected that the immunity obtained by vaccines and infections will decrease, and that immunity will be easier to escape. He pointed out that it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of the replacement of Omicron stocks with “BQ.
In fact, the number of people in downtown areas at night is increasing in many areas, and there are areas that have exceeded the same period last year or have returned to the level before the spread of corona.
For this reason, the expert meeting called for the completion of vaccination against the Omicron strain by the end of the year, and requested the promotion of the use of antigen test kits that can be tested by oneself.
In addition, in light of the year-end party season, we will
re-examine basic infection control measures such as: eating and drinking with as few
people as possible and wearing masks except when eating and drinking
; thorough ventilation;
and refraining from going out if you have symptoms.
I asked for thoroughness.
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato “Debate to review the handling of the new corona”
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato attended an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to advise on countermeasures against the new coronavirus, and discussed the treatment of the new coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Law, including the reduction to the same classification as seasonal influenza. requested to proceed.
In this, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato said, ``During the deliberations in the House of Representatives on the bill to revise the Infectious Disease Law, a provision was added to promptly consider the position of the new corona under the Infectious Disease Law. While listening to the latest evidence, I would like to proceed with comprehensive discussions at an early stage."
After that, "It is necessary to share understanding with the public on how to evaluate and think about the pathogenicity, infectivity, and possibility of mutation of the new corona, and it is necessary to create a foundation for that. In addition, I would like you to show an easy-to-understand way of thinking."
The number of new infections nationwide is 1.15 times the previous week
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 29th continued to increase by 1.15 times compared to the previous week.
On the other hand, in Hokkaido, where the number of infected people per population continues to be the highest in Japan, the number has turned to a slight decrease.
Among the three prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area,
Tokyo is 1.21 times,
Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures are 1.16 times,
and Chiba prefecture is 1.28 times
.
In the Kansai area,
Osaka Prefecture is 1.19 times,
Kyoto Prefecture is 1.25 times ,
Hyogo Prefecture is 1.23 times
, and even in Tokai,
Aichi Prefecture is 1.20 times,
Gifu Prefecture is 1.15 times
, and Mie Prefecture is 1.21 times
.
In addition
, while it increased in 46 prefectures, such as ▼
1.39 times in Kochi prefecture ▼
1.36 times in Shiga prefecture ▼ 1.33 times in Okinawa prefecture,
it decreased slightly in ▼ Hokkaido to 0.92 times.
The number of infected people per 100,000 population in the most recent week
was 1,042.62 in Hokkaido, the highest in Japan,
1,026.85 in Miyagi, 967.23 in
Nagano,
and 925.56 in Fukushima
, mainly in Hokkaido and Tohoku. more common in the area.
Also
▼ Tokyo has 539.52 people
▼ Osaka Prefecture has 387.70 people
▼ There are 563.62 people nationwide.
Chairperson Wakita: “We should thoroughly evaluate the appearance of the disease itself.”
At a press conference held after the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's expert meeting, Takaji Wakita, the chairman of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, estimated that the rate of detection of a new mutated virus "BQ.1" is increasing over the current infection status. Regarding what is being done, "BQ.1's ability to spread, combined with its ability to evade immunity, slightly exceeds that of BA.5, and is a factor in boosting the number of infected people. Rather than completely replacing "BQ.1", it is expected that multiple mutant viruses will coexist, and the situation may be a little complicated.It is difficult to imagine how high the wave of infection will be, but It is expected that it will not go down as smoothly as the 7 waves."
In addition, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato requested that discussions be held to review the treatment of the novel coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Act, including downgrading it to the same classification as seasonal influenza. He summarized the concept of risk assessment and suggested that the transmissibility of the virus, the severity of symptoms, and the impact on medical care should be considered. .
After that, regarding the points to be discussed, "Since the epidemic has centered on the Omicron strain and the pathology has changed considerably, I understand that the role of the expert meeting is to conduct a thorough risk assessment." We will answer the question so that the public can correctly understand what kind of disease COVID-19 is, rather than whether it is a disease of the COVID-19. There is also an opinion that he may be suffering from a major circulatory disease, and the current state of the disease itself should be thoroughly evaluated."