It has been officially decided that the position of the new coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Act will be shifted to "Class 5", which is the same as seasonal influenza, on May 8.
The domestic medical system and the burden of costs for infected people will change significantly from the past.
However, the number of infected people is increasing, and it has been pointed out that there is a high possibility that a major epidemic will occur in the future.
We summarized the outlook for the infection situation in the future in a Q&A.
⇒ Detailed article "Official decision of the new corona 'Class 5 transition'"
Q.What will happen to the cost if I get infected after May 5?
First of all, if you have symptoms such as fever, you can currently take the test free of charge, but since the support for the test cost by public funds will end, you will have to pay for it yourself.
In addition, the changes are as follows.
▼ Test kit distribution project by each local government → ended
▼ PCR tests performed at private laboratories → charged
,
and even if you use the test kit for a test performed at a medical institution, you will have to pay for it.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, if you are examined for the first time, the self-payment for the examination, including the initial examination fee, will be as follows.
▽ In the case of antigen test, counter burden 3% 2271 yen counter burden 1% 757 yen ▽ In the case of
PCR test, counter burden 3% 3489 yen counter burden 1% 1163 yen
On the other hand, if an infected person appears at a medical institution, elderly facility, or facility for the disabled where there are many people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, if the prefectural government conducts tests on people around them or intensive tests on staff, it will be conducted free of charge as an "administrative inspection".
Q.What is the over-the-counter burden for outpatient care?
The portion of outpatient care for treatment of infection is currently supported by public funds, so there is no burden on patients, but it will be reviewed to self-pay in Class 5.
How much of a burden will it be?
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare estimates that the cost of corona treatment drugs is currently borne by public expenses, and in the case of people who pay "3% at the counter" in insurance medical treatment, the new corona and seasonal influenza are compared as follows.
▼ Prescription of antipyretic / corona treatment drug (Lagebrio) (including examination fee) → maximum 4170 yen ▼ Prescription of antipyretic / influenza treatment drug (Tamiflu) (including examination fee) → up to 4450 yen
Like this, This means that the new coronavirus and influenza will be almost the same burden.
In addition, for
people who are 75 years old or older and have "1% of the counter burden" in the medical treatment covered by health insurance, ▼ Prescription of antipyretic / corona treatment drug (Lagebrio) (including examination fee) → up to 1390 yen ▼ Prescription of antipyretic / influenza treatment drug (Tamiflu) (including examination fee) →up to 1480 yen
This is expected to be about the same.
Q.What are the hospitalization costs?
You will be responsible for hospitalization expenses, medical expenses, and meals.
However, in order to avoid a sudden increase in the burden, as a response to the spread of infections in the summer, we will first take measures to reduce the copayment limit of 9,2 yen from the out-of-pocket payment limit of the high-cost medical care benefit system until the end of September.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare estimates that among those aged 75 and over, who are hospitalized at a high rate, those who are not exempt from inhabitant tax and have an annual income of up to 383.10 million yen are hospitalized for 3 days due to moderate illness, the copayment will be 7600,1 yen, and the meal fee will be 3800,<> yen.
Q.How much does the drug cost?
The cost of expensive corona treatment drugs will continue to be borne by public funds until the end of September, assuming the spread of infection in the summer.
If the public expense burden is eliminated, for example, if we calculate the current price of the new coronavirus treatment drug "Lagebrio", the outpatient copayment will be up to 9,3 yen.
From September onwards, we will consider measures for the spread of infection in winter, taking into account the balance with other diseases and the inventory situation in the country.
Q.How long do you refrain from going out during medical treatment?
Whether or not to refrain from going out during the recuperation period will be left to the individual's discretion after May 5.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has provided the following guidelines as recommended things to help you make a decision.
▽ Refrain from going out for 8 days from the day after the onset
▽ Refrain from going out for about 5 hours after the symptoms subside, and then wear a mask and refrain
from contact with the elderly because there is a possibility of excreting the virus until 24 days have passed. We want consideration for the people around us.
In addition, close contacts will no longer be required to refrain from going out based on the law, but if a cluster occurs at a medical institution or elderly care facility, it may be determined whether they are close contacts and may be asked to cooperate with the movement restrictions.
Q.What is the basis for the "5-day medical treatment period"?
Data from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases show that the detection of an infectious virus drops significantly from the day after onset to day 5, and falls below the detection limit on day 7.
According to the results presented by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases at an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare this month, the amount of infectious virus detected in the nose and throat samples of 1 people infected with the Omicron variant BA.85 was as follows compared to the date of onset.
▽ Day 3 from onset About half ▽ Day 5 from onset 20/1 or less
▽ Day 6 About 40/1
▽ Day 7 It is said that it was almost detected below the detection limit value and
did not exceed the detection limit value after the 7th day.
Project Professor Atsuro Hamada of Tokyo Medical University said the following.
"The risk is not zero even after a five-day recuperation period, but I think it is reasonable to set the period of home treatment to five days, and then wear a mask until about the 5th day to be careful not to pass it on to others.
Q.What about accommodation facilities?
In principle, hotels and other accommodation facilities secured by local governments for isolation and medical treatment of infected people will be closed.
However, accommodation facilities for the treatment of the elderly and pregnant women will continue until the end of September at the discretion of the local government, based on the balance between hospitalization and the assumption that a certain amount of self-payment will be paid.
Q.Where can I consult and prove my infection during medical treatment?
Currently, health observations conducted by public health centers for the elderly and people with underlying diseases will no longer be conducted.
For this reason, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends that if you are recuperating and have concerns about your symptoms, please visit a nearby medical institution or consult with the 24-hour consultation desk that the prefecture continues to provide.
In addition, many patients have visited the fever outpatient clinic for a certificate of infection at the request of their place of work, but after May 5, public health centers will no longer issue certificates.
For this reason, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recommends that if proof of infection is required, use a medical certificate issued by a medical institution.
Q.What about vaccinations?
Regarding vaccination against the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will continue to provide free vaccinations until March next year, and people at high risk of severe illness will be vaccinated twice a year from May and September, and those who are not at high risk of becoming seriously ill will also be vaccinated from September.
Specifically, from May 3, the elderly and people with underlying diseases, as well as healthcare workers and care workers, will be vaccinated with the current Omicron vaccine.
The specific schedule from September and the vaccine to be used will be decided in consideration of virus mutations and other factors.
Q.What are the infection control measures from May 5? What about acrylic sheets?
It will be left to the judgment of individuals and businesses.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has shown basic infection control measures that are considered to be effective in the future in order to help you make a decision.
Specifically, hand hygiene and ventilation, such as hand washing, will continue to be effective.
In addition, avoiding the so-called "3 Cs" and maintaining distance between people are effective for people at high risk of severe illness during the epidemic period.
On the other hand, regarding infection control measures such as temperature measurement at the time of admission, installation of disinfectant at the entrance, and installation of partitions such as acrylic boards, etc., which are carried out by business operators, etc., we would like you to make decisions based on the effectiveness and cost.
Q.Do I wear a mask?
Wearing a mask has already been an individual decision since March 3.
On the other hand, in order to prevent infection of the elderly, who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare calls for wearing it in the following situations.
▽ When visiting a medical institution ▽ When visiting medical institutions and elderly facilities where there are many people at high risk of becoming seriously ill ▽ When
riding a crowded train or bus such as during the commuting rush hour, Shinkansen and commuter liners where almost everyone can be seated, Highway buses are excluded.
In addition, the elderly, people with underlying diseases such as cancer, and people at high risk of severe illness, such as pregnant women, are effective in wearing masks when going to crowded places during the epidemic season.
In addition, staff at medical institutions and elderly care facilities, where there are many people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, are recommended to wear masks while on duty.
Q.What are the experts on the effectiveness of masks?
In February, members of the expert committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare presented materials summarizing scientific findings.
According to it, the purpose of masks is
▼ not to infect others when talking or coughing ▼ not
to infect yourself, and in the new corona,
about half of the infections occur during the incubation period before the onset of the disease. It is known that the infection is easy to spread even from people who do not show symptoms.
Then, as a result of analyzing 2 studies in each country, it was estimated that the risk of infection per week for people wearing masks was 78.1 times lower than for those who did not wear masks, and 0.84 times per 2 weeks.
An analysis of 0 studies from different countries suggested that community-wide recommendations could reduce the number of new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.
In addition, an American study estimated that a 76% increase in the number of people wearing masks would make the epidemic 21.10 times easier to control than otherwise.
Q.What are the restrictions on movement and border measures?
It will no longer be possible to restrict activities such as the declaration of a state of emergency, hospitalization advisories and instructions, and request that infected people and close contacts refrain from going out.
In addition, the government has previously required people entering the Japan from overseas to have certificates of vaccination three times to prevent the influx of the virus, but in principle, such measures will not be possible in Class 3.
Q.What happens to mutated viruses?
As for the mutated virus, the "XBB" strain, which has been pointed out to be easy to escape immunity by combining multiple Omicron strains, has become the mainstream, replacing the Omicron variant "BA.8", which was the mainstream in the eighth wave of infection spread this winter.
Currently, the number of people infected with the new corona continues to be low in Japan, but in Tokyo, as of April 5, mutated viruses of the "XBB" strain account for about 4%, of which "XBB.20.7", which is also detected in the United States, is the most common at about 1% of the total, followed by "XBB.5.4.1", which is more often detected in Europe. It is about 9%.
On the other hand, WHO = World Health Organization has designated "XBB.1.2", which is spreading in India, as "VOI = notable mutant strain", and although it has not yet been detected in Japan country, experts say that caution is required.
Project Professor Atsuro Hamada of Tokyo Medical University said, "XBB.1.16 is spreading mainly in India and South Asia, and the WHO seems to be quite vigilant.
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Professor Kei Sato
In addition, Professor Kei Sato of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, said of XBB.1.16, "There is no doubt that it is a virus with a high ability to escape immunity, but experiments have not found any dramatic changes compared to previous mutant viruses. It's important to maintain virus surveillance."
Q.Will the number of infected people increase in the future?
At an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on April 4, it was analyzed that the number of newly infected people is increasing moderately nationwide, and that infections may spread after the long holiday period in May.
Project Professor Hamada says that the background to the gradual increase in the number of infected people is that there has been a movement of people across regions at the turn of the year, the number of people taking off their masks has gradually increased, and the immunity acquired through infection and vaccination has gradually decreased.
On top of that, due to the characteristics of the new coronavirus as a respiratory infection, the number of infected people is expected to increase during the period of increased contact and winter, and pointed out that "from a medium- to long-term perspective, there is a high possibility that a major epidemic will occur this summer, around Obon this summer, and around November and December," and pointed out that caution is necessary in the future.