An advisory body of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which is examining measures to combat the novel coronavirus, said Tuesday the current infection situation "is at a record level" and could have a serious impact on the health care system.
The advisory body stressed if this situation continues, lives that could be saved through normal medical care will be lost.
"Strong measures are immediately required to reduce person-to-person contact in certain regions," said the chairperson, Takaji Wakita, director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, at a press conference.
The number of new virus cases per 100,000 people nationwide was 11.82 during the week ending on Nov. 23, more than double the figure compared to two weeks prior, according to data compiled by the ministry. The so-called effective reproduction rate, which indicates the average number of people one person can infect, was estimated at 1.67 in Tokyo, 2.24 in Osaka Prefecture and 2.16 in Hyogo Prefecture on Nov. 7. The figures significantly exceed 1 in certain regions, suggesting a trend.
According to data compiled by each municipality, there was a record high of 345 seriously ill patients nationwide as of Monday. On Nov. 18, the occupancy rate for hospital beds was 22.1% nationwide. By prefecture, the rates were 40.6% in Osaka Prefecture, 38.3% in Hokkaido, 37.2% in Saitama Prefecture and 32.8% in Tokyo.
The advisory body stated the situation has become severe, especially in Hokkaido. In Sapporo, in particular, the number of unoccupied hospital beds is running low, and in Asahikawa, it is becoming more difficult to manage hospitalizations.
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