The government's expert panel addressing the new coronavirus is working toward releasing "effective reproduction numbers" for the entire country at a meeting Thursday, it has been learned.
This value, called "R," indicates the contagion of viruses and bacteria and expresses the average number of people infected by a single infected person.
The expert panel wants the government to use R values in determining whether elementary, junior high, high schools and other institutions nationwide should stay closed, and whether to continue asking people to voluntarily refrain from attending large gatherings.
R values are estimated based on the number of infected people and the rate at which infections spread.
At a March 9 meeting, the panel expressed the view that the current R value in Japan is hovering around 1.
Epidemics spread when each infected person passes the virus to more than one person.
If the number of infected people who do not pass the virus to others increases, R falls below 1 and the epidemic moves toward containment.
If R stays at 1, the status quo remains.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, there were 13 cluster outbreaks -- small groups of infected people that could spread the epidemic -- in eight prefectures as of noon on Tuesday.
The ministry is working with local governments to quickly identify clusters, and when infected people are discovered, those who have been in contact with them are told to monitor their condition.
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