“We are in the middle of the seventh wave, with an explosion of cases at the national level. If the trend does not reverse within two weeks, hospitals will be overwhelmed and economic activities disrupted. It will be necessary to resolve to severe travel restrictions. » Kazuhiro Tateda, professor at Toho University, drew up, Friday, July 29, on the public channel NHK, an alarmist observation about the health situation in Japan. Also an adviser to the Japanese government on the coronavirus, he called for respecting the rules of distancing, ventilation or even wearing a mask. The government wants to stem the spread of the virus without harming economic and social activities.
With the approach of mid-August and the traditional departures of the “Good” (summer vacation period) seeing millions of Japanese return to their regions of origin, the number of Covid-19 patients reached 221,442. on July 29 alone, compared to 195,097 a week earlier. That of severely ill patients rose to 376, from 100 on July 14. That day, 122 people died of Covid-19, compared to 55 a week earlier.
The seventh wave, whose peak could occur on August 6, is already having perceptible consequences for the economy. For lack of technicians, patients or contact cases, the JR Kyushu railway company (southwest) suspended 120 express train services until August 5. Toyota has temporarily halted its assembly lines due to labor and parts supply issues. The Japanese postal service has closed 170 offices.
In addition, faced with the influx of victims of heatstroke in the heart of summer, hospitals are finding it increasingly difficult to receive patients with Covid-19. The bed occupancy rate exceeds 50% in 20 of the country’s 47 departments. It even reaches 88% in Okinawa (South).
Vaccination incentive
Faced with this unprecedented wave in an Archipelago that has so far managed the pandemic rather well, which has “only” killed 32,430 people there, the government is looking for a parade without considering “declarations of a state of emergency” similar to those put in place during previous waves. “We are going to make the most of the system in place so as not to affect social and economic activities”Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
On July 29, the government authorized the departments to take measures adapted to their health situation, by formulating requests for the use of telework, limitation of the openings of bars and restaurants, even advice not to go out, if the rate of hospital bed occupancy exceeds 50%.
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