NewsDesk @bactiman63
In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on June 23 that the number of new COVID-19 cases reported from about 5,000 medical institutions nationwide for fixed-point observations between June 12 and 18 stood at 5.60 per institution. This is 1.10 times the number reported the previous week, and case numbers have been on an upward trend. The infection situation in Okinawa Prefecture is particularly serious, forcing restrictions on emergency medical services, according to a Mainichi report.
The number of patients in Okinawa Prefecture from June 12 to 18 was 28.74 per medical institution, a 4.73-fold rapid increase in just over a month since immediately after the status of COVID-19 was downgraded to “category 5,” or the same level as seasonal influenza, under Japan’s infectious disease control law. According to the prefectural government, the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients has exceeded 500, already surpassing the eighth wave of infections in January of this year.
Yoshihiro Takayama, a doctor at Okinawa Chubu Hospital’s internal infectious diseases and community care department, pointed out, “In addition to the spread of community-acquired infections, there is a shortage of medical personnel due to infections, and hospital-acquired infections are putting pressure on medical care.”
On June 21, the Okinawa Prefectural Government asked residents to prepare test kits and fever-reducing medicines in advance and to refrain from visiting emergency rooms for those with minor symptoms in order to protect emergency medical services. Takayama commented, “We hope that people with symptoms such as fevers will cooperate in preventing the spread of infections by not going to events or drinking parties. Elderly people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill should refrain from gathering with others during the current outbreak.”
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Japan reports death from Oz virus in woman in 2022
