Can an explosion of infections be contained or not? This is a critical moment. The government, businesses and the public must share a sense of urgency and do everything in their power to address the crisis.
The number of novel coronavirus infections has exceeded 2,000 new cases per day across the country, a record high. The number of new daily cases in Tokyo exceeded 500, prompting the metropolitan government to raise its coronavirus alert to the highest level, indicating infections are widespread.
The coronavirus pandemic could be viewed as having entered a different phase from before.
This sudden expansion of infections is different in nature from that of the "second wave" in summer. In Tokyo, infection clusters have not been confined to nightlight districts, but have also spread to workplaces and university dormitories. Household infections also account for more than 40% of the total.
The number of people whose route of infection is unknown has reportedly increased. There appear to be many cases of people, including asymptomatic cases, who have been unwittingly spreading the virus. It is necessary to continue strengthening follow-up investigations by public health centers and conducting intensive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests in areas where infected cases are found.
It is worrisome that cases have been conspicuous among elderly people, who are more prone to become seriously ill. The bed utilization rate in the whole country has been rising. If infection numbers continue to rise at the same rate, it could lead to a scarcity of hospital beds and cripple medical systems in regional areas.
The central and prefectural governments need to steadily expedite measures not only to secure hotels and other accommodation facilities for people with mild symptoms, but also to strengthen the function of medical institutions.
The central government is cautious about reviewing its "Go To Travel" tourism promotion campaign. It is important to balance economic activities with coronavirus prevention measures, but if the situation further deteriorates, the foundation of economic activities also could collapse.
The central government should not hesitate to shift its emphasis in response to changes in the situation. It should consider necessary measures, including changing the campaign's target areas.
Since October, with the number of coronavirus cases remaining high, resort areas have been crowded on weekends. It seems that many people are planning to travel during the three-day holiday period starting this weekend. It is vital to stick to the basics of infection prevention while traveling. Those who do not feel well should stop traveling.
U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. intends to apply to the U.S. government for emergency permission to use its vaccine. Clinical trials have reportedly shown high efficacy. It is good news, but the vaccine will not be supplied to Japan until next year. The nation will have to make it through winter without a vaccine.
Coronavirus measures, such as wearing masks and avoiding the so-called Three Cs of closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings, have become widespread. However, it appears that countermeasure fatigue has emerged, and there have been more situations in which such measures are not always observed, particularly among younger generations.
It is important for society as a whole to recognize the need to contain the pandemic and for the awareness to lead to concrete action.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 20, 2020.
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