The Japanese government at a meeting of an advisory panel on Friday presented an outline of its novel coronavirus measures, including a plan to convert beds at publicly run hospitals into those exclusively for COVID-19 patients to prepare for times of emergency.
Japan’s health ministry decided last month to give booster shots to people who have gone at least eight months since receiving their second dose, citing studies that show antibodies that protect against the disease decrease over time.
“There were some people who died at home or saw their conditions worsen because they were not able to swiftly receive treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus,” said Goto, who assumed the post under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office last week.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday he will strengthen the country’s medical system amid the coronavirus pandemic by increasing the number of beds designated for COVID-19 patients at public hospitals.
Seven people were confirmed to be infected on the 25th at a disability welfare facility in Sendai City, and it was confirmed that a cluster had occurred.
Japan’s health ministry will swiftly consider allowing patients with the novel coronavirus to receive antibody cocktail treatment at home, health minister Norihisa Tamura said Wednesday.
A total of 21 people were newly confirmed, including 10 in Sasebo, 4 in Isahaya, 3 in Nagasaki and 3 in Hirado, and 1 in Saza. The total number of infected people in Nagasaki Prefecture is now 5716.
Progress in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign may have prevented more than 8,000 deaths of people 65 or older and spared more than 100,000 elderly people from novel coronavirus infection in July and August, according to an estimate compiled by Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry.
While new COVID-19 cases are on the decline in the 19 prefectures, medical systems are still burdened there, government officials said.
Takasaki City announced on September 7 that 17 people, including residents and staff at a facility for the people with disabilities, were confirmed as infected with the coronavirus.
