Shigeru Omi, chairman of the "Basic Response Policy Subcommittee," responded to media interviews after the meeting and all agreed to cancel the priority measures such as the prevention of spread in the five prefectures indicated by the government, while in 17 prefectures. Two members said they opposed the extension.
He opposed the fact that he was an expert other than infectious diseases, and Chairman Omi said, "As a legal requirement to issue priority measures, it is required that the frequency of pneumonia etc. is considerably higher than that of influenza. The main reason for the opposition was that these points were unclear for the Omicron strain. On the other hand, all but two were in favor of the extension. For influenza, oral drugs were readily available and mutations were stable. Compared to what is happening, the new coronavirus cannot be treated in the same way as influenza because the mutations are discontinuous. He said he needed a legal tool to make the right decision and control the infection. "
"The biggest challenge facing the expansion of Omicron strains right now is that infections are increasing only among the elderly, and many people are hospitalized, and more people are seriously ill or die. In some cases, not only corona-induced pneumonia but also the original underlying disease worsens and the patient dies, but in some local governments, additional vaccination at facilities for the elderly has not progressed. Anyway, promoting vaccination of the elderly and keeping the aggravation and death of the elderly as low as possible is the highest priority theme. "
Furthermore, regarding the "exit strategy" that looks after the infection of the new corona has subsided, Chairman Omi said, "The point of how to overcome the current sixth wave and how to deal with this virus in the medium to long term. I think there are two points. Especially for strategies from a medium- to long-term perspective, considering some possible scenarios while it is not possible to accurately predict how the nature of the virus will change as it is progressing. I think it's time to think about how to take measures while turning the economy, a big picture, and the direction. "