One in Four COVID-19 Patients in Japan Left at Home Without Care

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] In Japan, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has worsened the shortage of hospital beds, it is reported that one out of four patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are left at home.

According to Japan's Kyodo News on the 6th, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan announced survey results as of the 28th of last month showing that among 8,711 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 5,581 (63.8%) were hospitalized, 1,984 (22.8%) were recuperating at home, and 862 (9.9%) were recuperating in accommodation facilities such as hotels. Patients staying in social welfare facilities for the elderly or disabled numbered 147 (1.7%). These figures exclude those who have died or recovered from the illness.

The problematic group is the patients waiting at home. While medical staff are on standby at accommodation facilities arranged by health authorities, those staying at home often have nowhere to turn to in emergencies.

In fact, cases of patients who stayed at home due to mild symptoms suddenly worsening and resulting in death were reported consecutively last month.

The Japanese government shifted its policy on the 23rd of last month to transfer patients waiting at home to accommodation facilities for care, but still many patients remain at home.

The area with the highest number of patients waiting at home was Tokyo Metropolis, with 635 people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.