Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, October 9. The latest data from Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other institutions show that from January to June 2022, the additional death toll in Japan is estimated to reach 17,000 to 46,000, the highest since the emergence of the new crown epidemic. .
Additional deaths are calculated by taking the actual number of deaths for a period and subtracting the number of deaths predicted for the same period based on past data.
This is a common means of studying the impact of infectious disease epidemics.
Japan's Kyodo News reported on the 8th that according to the vital statistics of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and the Kyodo News Agency's own statistics, the total number of deaths in Japan in the first half of this year was about 777,000, of which more than 12,800 were infected with the new crown.
Kyodo News, citing expert opinions, said that in the first half of this year, the number of additional deaths increased. In addition to the direct deaths caused by the new crown, it also included deaths from diseases other than the new crown due to medical runs, and changes in living habits such as restrictions on going out caused existing chronic diseases. Deaths indirectly caused by the new crown epidemic, such as deterioration, suicide due to economic hardship, etc.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in 2020, due to the strong prevention and control measures taken after the emergence of the new crown epidemic, the number of deaths in Japan from diseases other than the new crown and accidents in this year decreased, and the total number of deaths nationwide also decreased.
However, in 2021, due to the spread of the new coronavirus delta strain and other reasons, the death toll in Japan that year exceeded 1.43 million, a record high since World War II.
Experts predict that in 2022, the number of deaths in Japan is likely to exceed that in 2021 due to the impact of the new coronavirus Omicron strain.