Japanese Quarantine Experts Meeting: "Uncontrollable Level COVID-19 Emergency"

"Medical Delivery System in Severe Functional Failure Including Emergency and Surgery"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] At a COVID-19 monitoring meeting in Tokyo Metropolis, an opinion was expressed that the infection situation in the area is a "disaster-level emergency where infections are raging uncontrollably."

On the 12th, Kyodo News and NHK reported that experts participating in the monitoring meeting stated this and diagnosed the medical provision system in the metropolis as being in "serious functional failure, including emergency and surgical services."

In fact, the spread of COVID-19 in Tokyo Metropolis is intensifying.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo on that day was 4,989, the second highest after 5,042 cases on the 5th. The number of severe COVID-19 patients in the metropolis increased to 218, setting a record high.

The recent seven-day average daily confirmed cases in Tokyo Metropolis was 3,934 as of the previous day, doubling in two weeks. The number of hospitalized patients as of the previous day was 3,667, the highest since the COVID-19 outbreak.

If this trend continues, the monitoring meeting forecasted that the recent seven-day average daily COVID-19 cases as of the 25th of this month will reach 5,113.

The subcommittee advising the Japanese government on COVID-19 measures suggested at the meeting that despite the state of emergency declaration, the spread of infection has not stopped, and that it is necessary to intensify measures over the next two weeks to reduce the crowd in Tokyo Metropolis to 50% compared to the first half of the year.

The subcommittee advised that in the areas under the state of emergency, including Tokyo, it is necessary to reduce outings by half and decrease crowds in places with a high risk of infection.

They also demanded strong suppression of crowds in department store food sections and shopping malls.

In particular, concerns about the spread of infection have increased as the summer holiday season called 'Obon Yasumi' began on the 9th in Japan.

In response, the Japanese government has requested people to refrain from traveling across the boundaries of prefectural governments.

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