The widespread outbreak of pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus is entering a new phase. The government should speed up efforts to strengthen the medical system on the assumption that the number of people infected with the virus in Japan will increase.
Previously, those found to have been infected in the nation were people who had returned from China or had contact with Chinese tourists. However, as in the case of a doctor in Wakayama Prefecture who recently tested positive, new cases are now beginning to be confirmed in which infected people have no obvious connection to China.
Many people infected with the virus show relatively mild symptoms. In some case viruses were not detected by testing. Considering these circumstances, it is natural to assume that there is a high possibility that the virus has already been spreading from person to person unbeknownst in Japan.
Currently, people suspected of being infected with the virus are advised to call the consultation center set up for those who have returned from abroad and had contact with infected people, so they can be referred to a hospital that has a clinic specializing in outpatients with the virus' symptoms. From now on general hospitals need to examine patients with symptoms such as fever, as there is the possibility of them having pneumonia caused by the new type of coronavirus.
A new strain of influenza that prevailed in 2009 will serve as a useful reference when considering how to accept patients infected with the coronavirus. Although special clinics were set up back then to examine outpatients who had developed a fever, many people -- including those with fevers from causes other than influenza -- rushed to such clinics, hampering their activities.
Thoroughly disclose info
Based on these lessons, guidelines were drawn up to encourage people with mild symptoms to recuperate at home to secure beds for those with severe symptoms and to designate special hospitals that do not examine patients with influenza.
In some cases, a temporary tent was set up outside the hospital to examine infected patients to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients.
In the event of a surge in the number of patients infected with the coronavirus, the government is required to consider in advance a procedure for separating those with mild symptoms from those with severe symptoms as well as how to allocate roles to each hospital.
The key in the days ahead will be how to protect elderly people and people with chronic illnesses among others who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill if they get infected with the coronavirus.
In homes and facilities with elderly people, it is desirable to pay extra attention to hand washing, disinfection and health management in order to not bring in viruses. It is also necessary to consider avoiding crowds as much as possible to reduce the chance of infection.
If the infection spreads in the nation, the focus of countermeasures will shift from keeping on tracking down infected people to quickly finding and treating seriously ill people.
The government should explain to the public what steps are needed and continue to call for calm action. It is important for the government to thoroughly disclose information regarding the symptoms of infected people and the activities they have taken so as not to incite any unnecessary anxiety among the public.
-- This article appeared in the print version of The Yomiuri Shimbun on Feb. 15, 2020.
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