Due to Medical Staff Shortage... Osaka and Hokkaido Request Self-Defense Forces Nurses Deployment

Prime Minister Suga: "Ready to Dispatch Immediately Upon Request"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Osaka and Hokkaido, Japan, has led to a shortage of medical personnel and facilities, a request was made to dispatch Self-Defense Force nurses, NHK and others reported on the 7th. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga instructed to prepare for the immediate dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces.

According to the report, Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, told reporters that he had "requested Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to dispatch (personnel)" to secure medical workers for treating COVID-19 patients. Governor Yoshimura visited a medical facility dedicated to severe patients in Osaka city on the same day, which is scheduled to open on the 15th, and judged that there might be a shortage of medical personnel and facilities before then.

Hokkaido also decided to request the dispatch of Self-Defense Force nurses as early as the afternoon of the same day, as there was no prospect of controlling the large-scale COVID-19 cluster infection that occurred at a medical institution in Asahikawa city within the prefecture.

The Japanese government plans to respond to local governments' requests for the dispatch of Self-Defense Force nurses. Prime Minister Suga stated at the government-ruling party liaison meeting that day, "I have instructed to prepare for immediate dispatch upon receiving requests from local governments."

Katsunobu Kato, Chief Cabinet Secretary, also said at the morning regular briefing, "I understand that Osaka Prefecture and Hokkaido are reviewing the requests," adding, "We are preparing to dispatch promptly as soon as requests are made." He further added, "We will cooperate closely with Osaka and Hokkaido and do our best to prevent severe cases and deaths as much as possible."

Kyodo News reported that since late last month, Osaka Prefecture has seen 300 to 400 new COVID-19 cases daily, and as of the previous day, the COVID-19 bed occupancy rate reached 86%. It also added that due to the shortage of medical personnel, there is a growing trend within Osaka Prefecture to close wards for patients other than those infected with COVID-19.

In Hokkaido, cluster infections at medical institutions have occurred consecutively. At Asahikawa Kosei Hospital, where the cluster infection occurred, 224 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed as of the previous day, making it the largest cluster infection case in Japan.

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