Covid-19: in Japan, the health situation is deteriorating and the population is panicking
Audio 01:21
Covid-19 pandemic in Japan Getty Images - Susumu Yoshioka
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The country currently has ten times more daily Covid cases than a month ago.
In areas where a state of emergency has been established, such as Tokyo, the health care system is on the verge of collapse due to a lack of beds and sufficient caregivers.
Publicity
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with our correspondent in Tokyo,
Bruno Duval
The Ministry of Health has now ordered that only seriously ill patients be hospitalized.
A decision which arouses the anger of the medical profession, and even a beginning of panic in the population.
The fact that even Covid patients suffering from breathing difficulties are no longer hospitalized outrageous this doctor.
"
The state of health of these patients can deteriorate quickly, it seems very imprudent to force them to stay at home.
And inhuman, moreover.
Those who suffer martyrdom while breathing are not entitled to the most powerful analgesics, which are only administered in a hospital environment
”
In Tokyo, an armada of home caregivers equipped with oxygen tanks are called upon day and night by patients who are in respiratory distress, which frightens this nurse. “
Many of my patients are so weak they can barely speak. Some even have purple lips and fingers because of their acute respiratory failure. I had never seen this! In my opinion, we are heading for a major health disaster
”.
Right now, the Japanese are flocking to oximeters - devices that measure the level of oxygen in the blood.
In this store, for example, every day, the shelves are taken by storm: “
I ordered an oximeter
, explains a customer,
because I was told that it was essential to monitor the evolution of her condition. health when it is not possible to be hospitalized
”.
"
When we are out of stock, customers get angry or burst into tears as they are stressed about not being able to buy this device,
" continues the store manager.
Stressed, and for good reason: six out of ten Japanese have
still not been vaccinated
...
►
To read also
: Japan extends the state of emergency, a week after the start of the Olympics
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Japan
Coronavirus
Health and medicine