An expert meeting was held by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to advise on countermeasures against the new coronavirus. He pointed out that there are regional differences in the infection status.
In the future, the number of infected people nationwide is expected to remain flat or increase. It is necessary to pay attention to the effects such as an increase.
According to the expert meeting, although the current infection situation continues to increase nationwide, the rate of increase has slowed down, and while the spread of infection has been slowing down in areas such as Hokkaido and Tohoku, where the spread of infection has taken precedence, the spread of infection has been delayed. He pointed out that the increase in the number of cases in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kinki, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa is large, and that there are regional differences in the infection status.
In addition, although the number of seriously ill people and the number of deaths across the country have recently leveled off, the number of infected elderly people continues to increase in most regions, and it is necessary to pay attention to future trends. increase.
In short-term predictions of the future infection situation, although there are regional differences and uncertainties, the nationwide trend will continue to increase from the same level, and the Omicron strain "BQ.1" strain, which is said to be more likely to escape immunity. He pointed out that it is necessary to pay attention to the impact of the increasing number of people in Japan and the increase in contact opportunities toward the end of the year.
In fact, the number of people in downtown areas at night is increasing, mainly in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, and there are areas that exceed the same period last year.
Regarding necessary measures, the expert meeting calls for the completion of vaccination against the Omicron strain by the end of the year, and calls for 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 and thoroughly implement basic infection control measures such as eating and drinking with as few people as possible, wearing masks when not eating and drinking, thoroughly ventilating, and refraining from going out if you have symptoms. I called again.
The number of new infections in a week continues to increase nationwide, but the range is small
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 6th continued to increase nationwide by 1.06 times compared to the previous week, but the increase has decreased. I'm here.
On the other hand, the number of infected people has decreased from the previous week in 11 provinces and prefectures, mainly in Hokkaido and Tohoku.
Among the three prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area,
▽ Tokyo and Kanagawa prefecture increased by 1.09 times,
▽ Saitama prefecture by 1.15 times, and
▽ Chiba prefecture by 1.13 times.
In the Kansai region,
Osaka Prefecture increased by 1.11 times,
Kyoto Prefecture by 1.13 times,
Hyogo Prefecture by 1.19 times,
and even in Tokai,
Aichi Prefecture by 1.02 times,
Gifu Prefecture by 1.04 times, and
Mie Prefecture by 1.08 times. it is continuing.
In addition,
▽
1.27 times in Okinawa Prefecture,
▽ 1.24 times in Kumamoto Prefecture,
▽ 1.21 times in Tokushima Prefecture,
▽ 1.20 times in Tottori Prefecture
. 0.88 times in
▽ Iwate, Yamagata and Yamanashi prefectures 0.95 times, and
11 provinces and prefectures, mainly in Hokkaido and Tohoku, have decreased.
The number of infected people in the last week per 100,000 population is
▽ Miyagi prefecture with 1007.00 people, the only one in Japan with over 1000 people,
▽ Akita prefecture with 940.07 people,
▽ Fukushima prefecture with 925.95 people,
▽There are 900.35 people in
Hokkaido, and there are many in areas centered on Hokkaido and Tohoku.
In addition,
▽ 588.28 people in Tokyo, ▽ 431.80 people in
Osaka Prefecture, ▽ 595.24 people
nationwide.
Treatment under the Infectious Diseases Law Elements to be considered when making judgments Indicated by the country
Regarding the treatment of the new coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Act, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has presented a document summarizing the factors to consider when making decisions at the expert meeting on the 7th.
In this, the factors to be considered in the judgment are "pathogenicity", "infectivity", and "possibility of future mutation".
Of these, "pathogenicity" is said to have a higher fatality rate than seasonal influenza, even for Omicron strains. We need to judge how to think about pathogenicity at this point.
Regarding "infectivity", it is said that the
Omicron strain is highly infectious.
With regard to the possibility of mutation of ", it is also an element that should be considered how to consider the possibility of mutation that greatly increases pathogenicity.
Based on this, it is necessary to consider how to treat patients in medical care, based on pathogenicity and infectivity.
Wakita, Chairperson: "Slow increase in metropolitan areas"
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 state of infection, saying, "In Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, there are some areas that have turned to a decline, but there is a gradual increase in metropolitan areas. After that, the trend of increase continues nationwide," he said, "Following the summer's 7th wave, the Omicron strain BA.5 has become the mainstream of infection, but" The proportion of BQ.1 strains is also gradually increasing.The infection is spreading in Europe, where the replacement of BQ.1 has already progressed, and if the replacement progresses in Japan, it is thought to have the same impact.In addition, There is a high possibility that the infection will spread due to increased contact with people who do not usually get along toward the year-end and New Year holidays.
He added, "Although the number of young people infected is decreasing, the number of elderly people infected will increase gradually, which may affect the increase in the number of severe cases and the number of deaths. It is important for some people to take precautions such as testing in advance."
Regarding the review of the treatment of the new coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Act, he said, "It is important to evaluate the virus's transmissibility, severity, and impact on medical care. It is necessary to assess whether it is necessary and what kind of support is needed from the government when moving the medical care provision system to the same level as ordinary medical care, and then consider the type."