Infection spreads in facilities for the disabled and elderly in Hokkaido, bringing total to 726 people

Written with extracts translated from The Sankei Shimbun

April 29 2020

 HOKKAIDO – Hokkaido announced on the 29th that 38 people were confirmed  to be infected with COVID-19 in Hokkaido bringing the total number of infected people to 726. The infection has spread to facilities for the disabled and the elderly, with three new people being confirmed at the facility for the disabled, “Kouyoen”

Two residents and one employee were found to be found in Koyoen on the 29th. In the same facility, three men who had been hospitalized at the “Engaru Welfare Hospital” (the same) where infections had occurred have been found to have been positive, and a total of 6 infected people have been found.

In Chitose City, where clusters (groups of infected people) have been occurring one after another, a new infection was confirmed for one staff member at “Gran Sera Kashiyo”, a housing for elderly people with services for day care. The total number of infected people was 19. In addition, women in their 80s who had been hospitalized at the Chitose Daiichi Hospital were found to be positive, and there were a total of 30 people infected at that hospital.

In Sapporo City, the number of infected people increased to 35 in total at the Ibarado Acacia Heights nursing home for the elderly (Kita Ward). Two people were confirmed at the “National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Cancer Center” (Shiroishi Ward), and the total number was 67.

Also, the infection of a woman in her 70s living in Tokyo was confirmed on the 29th in Hokkaido, as well as woman staying at a relative’s house in Hokkaido. A family living in Tokyo was found to be positive on the 23rd, and the city has contacted him.

A total of 726 infected people in Hokkaido as of 5 pm on the 29th. Of these, 243 were confirmed negative and ended the treatment. The number of patients undergoing treatment is 456, of which 17 are seriously ill. As of the 29th, 27 people in Hokkaido have died.