As the number of people infected with the new coronavirus continues to spread rapidly, with the number of people infected with the new coronavirus reaching a record high every day, an expert meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was held to advise on countermeasures.
Since there is concern that the number of seriously ill people will become the largest ever and the number of people dying will increase in the future, it is necessary to take measures with the recognition that the situation is at the disaster level in various parts of the country. In order to protect it, I called on people to stay at home as much as possible, refraining from going out or moving across prefectural borders.
At an expert meeting held on the 18th, regarding the infection situation, "The number of newly infected people is increasing rapidly in almost all areas of the country, and it is an unprecedented spread of infection. It is expected that the number will increase further in the future due to the influence of. "
On top of that, the number of seriously ill people has reached the largest scale ever, the number of elderly infected people has also increased, and the number of people dying has begun to increase. It is necessary to respond by recognition. "
In addition, it has become difficult to adjust hospitalization for moderately and severely ill patients, restricting general medical care, and in some cases it is difficult to carry out ambulance. The expression "" showed an extremely strong sense of crisis.
By region, the largest ever spread of infection in Tokyo, with the number of hospitalized patients mainly in their 20s and 50s, and the number of severely ill people using respirators mainly in their 40s and 60s. The number continues to increase and continues to reach record highs, making it difficult to accept new hospitalizations and emergency transport, and limiting general medical care.
In addition, the usage rate of beds is rapidly increasing in Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures, and although the number of people at night is steadily decreasing in Tokyo, it is pointed out that it has not reached the level at the time of the previous state of emergency declaration. doing.
Okinawa Prefecture has an unprecedented level of infection, and despite the fact that the bed usage rate exceeds 80%, the number of people at night will start to increase again, and the infection may continue to spread. increase.
At the expert meeting, the positive rate of PCR test is high at 20% or more in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Okinawa prefecture, and it is considered that the number of infected people is insufficiently grasped by the test, and the actual number of infected people is too small. Some point out that it is being evaluated.
On top of that, the expert meeting said that the government and citizens would share the sense of crisis that the highly infectious Delta strain is "a virus of a different level than before" regarding the necessary measures, and vaccines to protect themselves and their families. Reduce the number of outings to less than half, including those who have been vaccinated, reduce the chances of meeting people who do not usually meet, refrain from moving across prefectures, hold meetings online in principle at work, promote telework, and have symptoms. I asked for a person to refrain from going to work.
In addition, it is necessary to take the initiative in prefectural governments to maximize the use of local medical resources and take measures such as the development of temporary medical facilities on the premise that severe infection conditions will continue nationwide for the time being. increase.
Chair Wakita "There is no choice but to reduce contact"
Chairman Takaji Wakita, who met after the meeting, commented on the current infection situation and countermeasures: "In the Tokyo metropolitan area and Okinawa, the infection situation seems to be a'landing', but in other areas it continues to expand rapidly. In addition to the fact that the number of infected people has been reported to be quite high in Tokyo, it is expected that the number will continue to increase in the future. As suggested by the subcommittee of Okinawa, the focus is on getting the opportunity to go out in half. Currently, the medical situation is often said to be "disaster level", but general medical care will be restricted. I want you to be aware of the situation and act accordingly. "
On top of that, regarding the voice that a strong infection control mechanism such as lockdown is necessary, "While there are strong restrictions on restaurants, etc., strong measures such as going out restrictions are taken for individuals. I couldn't do it, so I asked for self-restraint. It is difficult to discuss a new mechanism in time for the current explosive spread of infection, so I managed to improve the infection situation within the current legal framework. Although there was no discussion at today's meeting, I think it is necessary to have a legal framework that restricts individual behavior to some extent when considering future countermeasures against infectious diseases. " I was talking.
Number of newly infected people nationwide 1.31 times that of the previous week
According to the materials presented at the expert meeting, the number of newly infected people in the week up to the 17th is 1.31 times that of the previous week, and the infection continues to spread nationwide.
Looking at the current status of infection in terms of the number of infected people per 100,000 population in the last week,
▽ Okinawa Prefecture has 311.56 people, which is the first time that the
number of infected
people has exceeded 300, and
▽ Tokyo The capital is 227.64,
▽ Kanagawa is 159.68,
▽ Saitama is 149.10,
▽ Chiba is 138.06,
▽ Osaka is 126.20,
▽ Fukuoka is 111.62,
▽ Kyoto is 104.37 and 100. It has exceeded
100 people for the first time, with 101.26 people nationwide.
Forty prefectures have exceeded the 25 people who are the most seriously infected in "Stage 4".
Delta strain accounts for more than 90% of all infections throughout the region
It is estimated that the highly infectious mutant virus "Delta strain" accounted for more than 90% of all infections not only in the Tokyo metropolitan area but also in Kansai, Aichi, Fukuoka, Okinawa, etc., and almost replaced it.
The result of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases estimating the proportion of viruses containing the "L452R" mutation found in Delta strains based on the data of "mutant screening tests" of seven private testing companies. Was shown at an expert meeting.
According to this, 98% of Delta stocks have already been replaced in Tokyo, and 98% in 1 metropolitan area including Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures.
Also, in 2 prefectures and 1 prefecture in Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures, the number was low until the beginning of last month, but it has spread rapidly and has already almost replaced 92%.
Furthermore, it has already been replaced by 99% in Okinawa prefecture, 97% in Fukuoka prefecture, 94% in Aichi prefecture, and estimated to be 85% in Hokkaido. It has been pointed out that the number of patients has increased rapidly, leading to a crisis in the medical system in Tokyo and other areas.