Covid in Japan: "if this shortage of tests drags on, it's a health disaster"

2022-02-05T16:25:30.892Z

In the archipelago, hit by a sixth wave of the epidemic, the daily number of contaminations continues to increase. Because of Omicron but also the slowness of the vaccination campaign. And…

Covid in Japan: "if this shortage of tests drags on, it's a health disaster"

Audio 01:22

A truck with a public awareness notice about the Omicron variant drives through a busy shopping street in Tokyo, January 28, 2022. AP - Eugene Hoshiko

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

In the archipelago, hit by a sixth wave of the epidemic, the daily number of contaminations continues to increase.

Because of Omicron but also the slowness of the vaccination campaign.

And for the past few days, Japan has been facing a shortage of PCR tests and antigen tests.

Reporting.

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With our correspondent in Tokyo,

Bruno Duval

This Tokyo pharmacist, like many of his colleagues, is now out of stock of antigenic tests: “

This morning, I sold the last ten tests I had left

And my supplier is unable to tell me when he will be able to restock me.

PCR tests too have become a rare commodity.

In any case, within less than ten days, which this passerby does not appreciate: "

I have not yet received my third dose of vaccine and now, on top of the market, it is no longer possible to get tested,

she protests.

My arms fall away.

►

To read also: Covid-19 in Japan: the government introduces free PCR and antigen tests

In hospitals, too, tests are rationed.

“

In the absence of tests, we are trying to flush out this damn virus via a simple clinical examination,

explains a doctor.

But it's not easy to differentiate Omicron from a big winter flu.
And then, it's risky to proceed like that
: an undiagnosed Covid is the assurance that the person concerned will contaminate everyone around him.

“

We are reduced to screening only the patients in the worst condition,

adds his colleague.

The problem is that more and more patients who have not been able to be tested are seeing their condition deteriorate rapidly.
So if this shortage of tests drags on and Omicron continues to spread, we are heading straight for a health disaster.

However, the Japanese have not yet finished with Omicron: epidemiologists only foresee the peak of the sixth wave at the end of February, at the earliest.

To date, less than 5% of Japanese people have received their third booster dose.

►

To read also: Covid-19 in Japan: vaccination drags on, cases explode in children

Covid in Japan: "if this shortage of tests drags on, it's a health disaster"

Covid in Japan: "if this shortage of tests drags on, it's a health disaster"

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