The number of people infected with the new coronavirus is rapidly increasing in Tokyo, causing a shortage of hotels rented by the metropolitan government to accommodate those who are asymptomatic or have mild cases. While infections exceeded 100 per day for the eight consecutive days leading up to July 16, the rooms available only catered for about 100 people, which lead to an increase in the number of inpatients and those recuperating at home. A Tokyo Medical Association official said, "Pressure is starting to build on hospital beds." The metropolitan government plans to secure two new hotels.
In Tokyo, infections peaked on Thursday at more than 280. As of Tuesday, 273 were recovering at home, which is over 50 times more than the previous month.
Initially, the metropolitan government prepared five hotels to accommodate 1,200 people who do not need to be hospitalized. Since Monday, only one hotel that caters for 100 people has been secured in Hachioji, where 104 people are recovering as of Tuesday. According to the metropolitan government, there are cases in which those who cannot stay at hotels are recommended to be hospitalized, as of Tuesday the number of inpatients reached 679, an increase of more than 200 from the previous week.
In comparison to hotels, where doctors are present, recuperating at home is said to pose a higher risk due to sudden worsening of symptoms. In April, two people in Saitama Prefecture died while recuperating at home. In relation to the reduction of hotel rooms, a senior source at the metropolitan government said, "The dramatic decline in the number of infections had led to a more optimistic outlook."
On the other hand, Haruo Ozaki, chairman of the Tokyo Medical Association, said, "Recovering in a hotel has the advantage of preventing infection among family. The metropolitan government is urged to secure facilities as soon as possible."
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