Japan Faces New COVID-19 Outbreak Amid Rising Infections and Hospitalizations
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Japan Faces New COVID-19 Outbreak Amid Rising Infections and Hospitalizations
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Japan Faces New COVID-19 Outbreak Amid Rising Infections and Hospitalizations
On July 12, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare released a new report indicating that Japan is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections. The number of infected individuals has surged, with hospitalizations surpassing previous peak levels.
According to reports from 5,000 designated medical institutions nationwide, 39,874 cases were treated between July 1 and July 7, averaging 8.7 cases per institution, a 1.39-fold increase from the previous week.
In the first week of July, 2,340 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19, an increase of 632 from the prior week. Notably, ICU admissions rose by 30, reaching a total of 102 patients.
Currently, the most affected regions are Okinawa, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Fukuoka Prefectures, with case numbers 2-3 times the national average. These areas are all located in the Kyushu region. Although infection rates in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka are lower than in Kyushu, they still average 7.4 cases per hospital, exceeding the national alert threshold of 5 cases. Okinawa has the highest rate at 30 cases per hospital.
A man named Yamazaki, interviewed by TBS Television, reported contracting COVID-19 for the second time in two years. Initially, his child got infected, followed by the entire family testing positive. Yamazaki experienced severe symptoms, including a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius for five days and intense throat pain. Despite initially suspecting a summer cold, hospital tests confirmed COVID-19. Although he did not require hospitalization, Yamazaki continues to suffer from extreme fatigue, loss of taste, and persistent coughing ten days post-diagnosis.
TV news anchors Nana Suzuye and Keisuke Mori from Nippon TV, both tested positive for COVID-19 starting June 25, temporarily halting their appearances.
Since May 2023, the Japanese government has downgraded COVID-19 from a category 5 to a category 2 infectious disease, similar to seasonal influenza, resulting in relaxed controls and vigilance. However, Ministry of Health data shows that from May 2023 to January 2024, there were 21,000 COVID-19-related deaths nationwide. This indicates that while the peak of the pandemic may have passed, the virus remains highly lethal.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports that the current outbreak is the 11th wave since 2020, driven by the Omicron variants “JM.1” and “KP.2,” which have significant vaccine escape capabilities.
Professor Kenzo Takahashi of Teikyo University, in a television interview, attributed the current surge to the spread of the virus through air conditioning during hot weather and the general public’s decreased mask-wearing. Crowded places such as subways, restaurants, and stores pose higher risks of infection.
Professor Takahashi emphasized the importance of using air conditioning for those with underlying health conditions and the elderly during hot weather to prevent heatstroke, which can be life-threatening when combined with a COVID-19 infection.
As humanity enters an era of coexistence with COVID-19, constant vigilance is necessary despite the absence of widespread fear.
On July 12, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare released a new report indicating that Japan is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 infections. The number of infected individuals has surged, with hospitalizations surpassing previous peak levels.
According to reports from 5,000 designated medical institutions nationwide, 39,874 cases were treated between July 1 and July 7, averaging 8.7 cases per institution, a 1.39-fold increase from the previous week.
In the first week of July, 2,340 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19, an increase of 632 from the prior week. Notably, ICU admissions rose by 30, reaching a total of 102 patients.
Currently, the most affected regions are Okinawa, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Fukuoka Prefectures, with case numbers 2-3 times the national average. These areas are all located in the Kyushu region. Although infection rates in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka are lower than in Kyushu, they still average 7.4 cases per hospital, exceeding the national alert threshold of 5 cases. Okinawa has the highest rate at 30 cases per hospital.
A man named Yamazaki, interviewed by TBS Television, reported contracting COVID-19 for the second time in two years. Initially, his child got infected, followed by the entire family testing positive. Yamazaki experienced severe symptoms, including a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius for five days and intense throat pain. Despite initially suspecting a summer cold, hospital tests confirmed COVID-19. Although he did not require hospitalization, Yamazaki continues to suffer from extreme fatigue, loss of taste, and persistent coughing ten days post-diagnosis.
TV news anchors Nana Suzuye and Keisuke Mori from Nippon TV, both tested positive for COVID-19 starting June 25, temporarily halting their appearances.
Since May 2023, the Japanese government has downgraded COVID-19 from a category 5 to a category 2 infectious disease, similar to seasonal influenza, resulting in relaxed controls and vigilance. However, Ministry of Health data shows that from May 2023 to January 2024, there were 21,000 COVID-19-related deaths nationwide. This indicates that while the peak of the pandemic may have passed, the virus remains highly lethal.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases reports that the current outbreak is the 11th wave since 2020, driven by the Omicron variants “JM.1” and “KP.2,” which have significant vaccine escape capabilities.
Professor Kenzo Takahashi of Teikyo University, in a television interview, attributed the current surge to the spread of the virus through air conditioning during hot weather and the general public’s decreased mask-wearing. Crowded places such as subways, restaurants, and stores pose higher risks of infection.
Professor Takahashi emphasized the importance of using air conditioning for those with underlying health conditions and the elderly during hot weather to prevent heatstroke, which can be life-threatening when combined with a COVID-19 infection.
As humanity enters an era of coexistence with COVID-19, constant vigilance is necessary despite the absence of widespread fear.
Japan Faces New COVID-19 Outbreak Amid Rising Infections and Hospitalizations
(source:internet, reference only)
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