Regarding the infection status of the new coronavirus nationwide, the average number of patients per medical institution was 14.93 in the week ending on the 28th of last month, which is 1.22 times the number of the previous week.
In addition, the number of influenza patients reported by medical institutions nationwide was 19.2 per medical institution in the week ending on the 28th of last month, a slight increase from the previous week.
Let's look at each situation in detail.
table of contents
Number of new coronavirus patients increases for 10th consecutive week “Increasing especially among the younger generation”
Inpatients increase; hospitals in Tokyo are wary of further spread of infection
Number of influenza patients: 19.2 per medical institution, slightly increased from the previous week
Expert: ``Reports of new coronavirus infections are just the tip of the iceberg''
Open table of contents
table of contents
table of contents
Number of new coronavirus patients increases for 10th consecutive week “Increasing especially among the younger generation”
Inpatients increase; hospitals in Tokyo are wary of further spread of infection
Number of influenza patients: 19.2 per medical institution, slightly increased from the previous week
Expert: ``Reports of new coronavirus infections are just the tip of the iceberg''
Number of new coronavirus patients increases for 10th consecutive week “Increasing especially among the younger generation”
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of new coronavirus patients reported by approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week ending on the 28th of last month was 73,607, an increase of 13,339 from the previous week.
Additionally, the average number of patients per medical institution was 14.93, an increase of 1.22 times from the previous week.
This is the 10th consecutive week of continued increase from the previous week.
Of these, the number of patients under the age of 10 was 4.73, the highest among all age groups, while the number of patients over the age of 80 was 0.81, a decrease from the previous week.
By prefecture, in descending order, Fukushima prefecture had 23.94 people, Aichi prefecture had 21.24 people, Ibaraki prefecture had 21.15 people, Tochigi prefecture had 21.01 people, Nagano prefecture had 21.01 people,
etc. in 40 prefectures. It is increasing.
Also, due to the impact of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, of the 48 medical institutions in Ishikawa Prefecture that are required to report the number of new coronavirus patients, reports from two locations in northern Noto are not included, but Ishikawa Prefecture was 20.91 people, an increase from the previous week.
In addition, in the week ending on the 28th of last month, the number of newly hospitalized patients reported by approximately 500 medical institutions nationwide was 3,311.
Although the number of cases decreased by 151 compared to the previous week, it is still at the same level as when the infection spread last summer.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare commented on the current state of the epidemic nationwide, saying, ``The increase in the number of infected people is particularly noticeable among young people.The reopening of schools after winter vacation may be a contributing factor, so we hope schools continue to take thorough measures to prevent infection.'' I am.
Inpatients increase; hospitals in Tokyo are wary of further spread of infection
As the number of people infected with the new coronavirus increases, the number of patients hospitalized is also increasing.
Hospitals in Tokyo that are accepting inpatients with the new coronavirus have about half of their beds occupied as of this week, so they are wary of the spread of infection in the future.
Nihon University School of Medicine Itabashi Hospital, located in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, has set up an inpatient area in the inpatient ward exclusively for patients with the new coronavirus.
According to the hospital, in addition to 8 beds for critically ill patients and pregnant women, they have 19 beds for moderately ill patients, and as of the 1st, 5 people were admitted to the seriously ill beds and 9 people were admitted to the moderately ill beds. It means that you are doing it.
There are many cases where people are hospitalized for other illnesses and then find out that they are infected with the new coronavirus, or because the infection has spread in nursing homes, and many of the hospitalized patients are elderly.
On the other hand, in addition to the elderly, hospitalizations are also noticeable among people with underlying health conditions, those who have received fewer vaccinations, and those who have been vaccinated for a long time.
The hospital is concerned that the infection will spread further and the number of hospitalized patients will increase in the future, and is preparing to expand the capacity to a maximum of 35 beds.
Deputy Hospital Director Tadaki Takayama said, ``The number of hospitalized patients has been increasing from last week to this week.People with underlying illnesses are more likely to become seriously ill, and we are concerned about the effects, and those who have been vaccinated for some time should receive an additional vaccination. "I would like you to consider this. The basic infection control measures will not change, so I would like you to go back to basics and be careful about wearing masks and sanitizing your hands."
Number of influenza patients: 19.2 per medical institution, slightly increased from the previous week
The number of influenza patients reported by medical institutions nationwide was 19.2 per medical institution in the week ending on the 28th of last month, a slight increase from the previous week.
Fukuoka and Okinawa prefectures have more than 30 cases, which is considered a "warning level."
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the number of influenza patients reported from approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week ending on the 28th of last month was 94,694, which was 19.2 cases per medical institution, which is the highest number of influenza cases reported in the week ending on the 28th of last month. This is an increase of 1.48 people compared to the previous week.
Based on this data, the number of patients nationwide in the past week is estimated to be approximately 627,000, and the cumulative number of patients this season since September 4 of last year is estimated to be approximately 12,844,000.
Fukuoka and Okinawa prefectures have more than 30 people at the "alert level"
Looking at the number of patients per medical institution by prefecture, Fukuoka prefecture has the highest number of patients at 34.89, and Okinawa prefecture has 31.83, with these two prefectures exceeding the "alert level" of 30 patients. .
In addition, 40 prefectures are at the "advisory level", including 29.86 people in Miyazaki Prefecture, 26.35 people in Chiba Prefecture, 24.68 people in Aichi Prefecture, 23.81 people in Osaka Prefecture, and 18.53 people in Tokyo. There are more than 10 people.
Also, according to a summary by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, virus analysis results for the past five weeks showed that influenza type A accounted for approximately 80%, and influenza type B approximately 20%.
Expert: ``Reports of new coronavirus infections are just the tip of the iceberg''
Professor Kazuhiro Tateda of Toho University, who is an expert on infectious diseases, commented on the current situation of the new coronavirus outbreak, saying, ``We are not seeing an explosive increase in the number of infected people per sentinel, but we do not need to pay attention to the fact that the number of hospitalized patients is increasing.'' It has been reported that many of the hospitalized patients are elderly people over 80 years old. Elderly people need to be careful because if they are infected with the new coronavirus, there is a high risk that their underlying diseases will worsen and the disease will become severe. Yes,” he said.
He added, ``As the number of people being tested is decreasing, what is being reported is only the tip of the iceberg, and we must keep in mind that there are many more infected people than the apparent number of infected people.'' No,” he pointed out.
"According to data from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, a mutant virus called 'JN.1' is currently dominant at around 58%, but this virus is a type of Omicron strain, and the vaccines currently in use are effective and can be used. There are treatments available. Don't panic. If it has been a while since your last vaccination and you are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, please consider getting vaccinated again. If you feel something is wrong, hurry up. I want them to see a medical institution.''
He also said, ``I would like to see basic infection control measures taken to prevent the spread of infection any further. I would like people to use masks and ensure ventilation in places where they cannot maintain distance, such as on crowded trains. If this happens, it could be the new coronavirus or the flu, so it's important that you stay at home and don't overdo it."
In addition, regarding the status of influenza infections, ``Although there is a slight increase nationwide, there are over 30 cases in some areas, so we need to continue to be careful.Influenza usually peaks from late January to early February. "In the latter half of the epidemic, type B cases will increase. We have to be careful about whether the number will start to decline soon or if it is still increasing."