Number of COVID-19 patients increases for 12 consecutive weeks, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Reports

From NHK

August 2 2024

TOKYO – The national infection situation of COVID-19 is that the average number of patients per medical institution in the week up to the 28th of last month was 14.58, 1.07 times the previous week, and has been increasing for 12 consecutive weeks. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says, “When large groups gather, such as when returning home, please pay particular attention to your health and take basic infection control measures.”

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of COVID-19 patients reported from approximately 5,000 medical institutions nationwide in the week up to the 28th of last month increased by 4,669 from the previous week to 72,003.

In addition, the average number of patients per medical institution was 14.58, 1.07 times the previous week.

This is the 12th consecutive week of increase from the previous week.

The number of cases by prefecture is as follows:

Saga Prefecture 31.38 cases

Miyazaki Prefecture 25.98 cases

Kumamoto Prefecture 25.46 cases

Nagasaki Prefecture 24.94 cases

Aichi Prefecture 23.25 cases, etc.

39 prefectures have seen an increase from the previous week.

In the week ending on the 28th of last month, the number of newly hospitalized patients reported by approximately 500 medical institutions nationwide was 4,579, an increase of 736 cases from the previous week.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has stated the national epidemic situation “continues to increase. The peak of infections is usually after the Obon holiday, so please pay particular attention to your health and take basic infection control measures when gathering in large groups for homecoming trips, etc.”