One month has passed since the position of the new coronavirus under the Infectious Diseases Act shifted to "Class 5".

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) says that the nationwide infection situation based on "fixed-point grasp" has been on a moderate upward trend since April.

So, how do clinics that actually deal with patients view the current infection situation?

We asked experts about the outlook for the future.

Corona Class 5 transition 1 month gradual increase trend

After the transition of the new coronavirus to Class 5, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has been grasping the epidemic situation by "fixed-point grasp" based on weekly reports from about 5000,1 medical institutions nationwide.

As a result, the "average number of patients per medical institution" continues to increase as follows.

One week ending May 1... 5.14 people
▽ One week until May 1 ... 2.63 people
▽ One week until May 5 ... 21.1

Looking at the trends together with the infection situation from October last year to December 10 this month, which was retabulated by "fixed point grasp", the peak of the "eighth wave" was 7.8 in December last year, and although it has been on a downward trend since then, it has exceeded the previous week for eight consecutive weeks since April.

In addition, the "number of newly hospitalized patients" announced as a new indicator of the epidemic situation = the number of newly hospitalized people in one week has changed as follows.

December last year (at the peak of the "eighth wave")... Over

12,29 people ▽ After the transition to Class 80 ... 4~8 The
Ministry of
Health, Labor and Welfare is calling for "the current relatively low level, but I would like you to pay close attention to the future infection situation in preparation for the spread of infection that is a concern in the summer, and take necessary infection control measures according to the situation."

At the clinic, "the number is increasing little by little" Some people do not want to be tested.

So, how do medical institutions that actually deal with patients view the current infection situation?

At a clinic in Kanagawa Prefecture, it is said that the number of patients who have been confirmed positive has been gradually increasing since the new corona moved to Class 5.

This clinic, which provides internal medicine and pediatric examinations, examines patients with symptoms such as fever along with regular patients mainly by appointment.

During April, only one to two positive tests were confirmed per day, but it began to increase little by little after the long holidays, and in the three days until June 4, five to eight positive tests were confirmed in one day.

Test kit with a positive result

Although the number of patients visiting with symptoms such as fever and cough has not changed significantly, it is said that there are a certain number of people, mainly the younger generation, who do not want to be tested even if they have symptoms because they have to pay for the test themselves or want to avoid taking time off from work after the transition to Class 5.

Dr. Eiji Kuzumi, president of Navitas Clinic, points out the following regarding the current infection situation.

There is a concern that the infection will spread towards the summer, and I think the reality is that it is difficult to take a break when working, but I think it is important to refrain from going out as much as possible, such as taking time off from work or school if you are sick to prevent the spread of infection."

Infection status, possibility of underestimation

Project Professor Atsuro Hamada of Tokyo Medical University analyzes the current infection situation as follows.

"Although there is a slight increase in fixed-point figures, there is a real feeling from the medical field that the number of patients is increasing. On the other hand, the number of hospitalized patients and seriously ill patients, which are accurately grasped to some extent, has not increased to that extent."



"In the past two years, Japan has had a major outbreak of a highly contagious mutated virus in the summer, so far we have not seen any new variants, but we need to watch closely the developments."

Medical Care Provision System Future Challenges

On the other hand, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is aiming for a "system that can be handled by a wide range of medical institutions" for the medical system after the transition to Class 5, and the issue continues to be whether it can develop a system that can respond to the spread of infections that are a concern in summer and winter.

Of these, the company aims to increase the number of "outpatient care" to about 6,4000 medical institutions that have dealt with seasonal influenza, and as of May 5, about 31,4 medical institutions are accepting patients.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) plans to increase the number of medical institutions that can respond to hospitalizations by continuing to subsidize facilities such as infection control and protective clothing in hospitals with a maximum limit of 8000,8200 yen for medical institutions that accept new patients.

In addition, during the Omicron variant epidemic after the sixth wave, the problem was that the elderly worsened their underlying diseases and decreased physical functions due to corona infection, so a new medical fee was added when patients were accepted in the "Community Comprehensive Care Ward" that provides rehabilitation and other support for the discharge of the elderly.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to accept approximately 6,3000 patients in "community comprehensive care wards," but some hospitals have not accepted patients so far, and it is an issue whether they can respond smoothly.

Renewal of subsidies for continuation after October

In order to maintain the system for dealing with fever patients even after the transition to Class 5, special additions to medical fees, subsidies to medical institutions, and part of the public burden of medical expenses will continue until the end of September.

Of these, the so-called "vacancy compensation," which is a bed securing fee to assist medical institutions that have secured beds to accept inpatients with the new coronavirus, varies depending on the type of bed, but continues at half the price even after the transition to Class 9.

In addition, in principle, 3% of the co-payment of medical expenses is required as for other diseases such as seasonal influenza, but in order to alleviate the rapid increase in burden, the cost of expensive coronavirus drugs and part of the hospitalization cost continue to be borne by the public.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will conduct necessary reviews in September after examining the status of the medical care provision system until the summer prior to the spread of infections in winter.

On top of that, we will proceed with the review of special additions to medical service fees and subsidies to medical institutions in stages, and will shift to a medical care provision system based on a new medical fee system that incorporates the response to the novel coronavirus in the revision of medical service fees in fiscal 9 next fiscal year.