Animal therapy, designed to heal people through contacts with animals, is spreading in Japan amid the COVID-19 crisis.
A university in Tokyo has hosted a session to introduce therapy dogs to students and alleviate their loneliness attributed to the prolonged novel coronavirus crisis, while facilities for disabled people are developing environments that allow residents to live with animals.
According to the Japan Association of Visually Impaired Persons, the new coronavirus has been effecting the visually impaired one after another since last year, and multiple infections were confirmed in the fifth wave of this summer when the infection spread rapidly.
As of Tuesday, 70.1 pct of Japan’s population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while 76.7 pct has been given at least one dose.
The total number of vaccine shots given in the country came to some 185.97 million. The number of people who has received two shots stood at about 88.79 million. The proportion of such people reached 90.4 pct for those aged 65 or older.
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.
Barrier Free Japan