Although the average daily increase in the number of infections in Japan in the past week exceeded 160,000, and on December 28, the number of new infections exceeded 200,000 for two consecutive days,The Japanese government still has confidence in the prevention and control of the epidemic.
learned through interviews with several government officials that the Japanese government is studying to downgrade the new crown infection from "category 2", which is the second most dangerous, to "category 2", which is equivalent to seasonal flu, starting from April 1 next year. Category 5".
On the basis of determining the infection status at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, it is expected that the Prime Minister will consult with experts to make a judgment in January next year.
Currently, the Japanese government can request isolation and hospitalization adjustments for new crown infected people, and inspections, hospitalizations, and vaccinations at fever clinics are all paid for by public funds. After
is reduced to Category 5, public-funded medical treatment will stop. The government plans to continue to bear public funds and spend about a year to gradually transition to ordinary insurance medical treatment. Experts also suggest continuing to pay medical institutions subsidies to ensure hospital beds and vaccines free vaccinations to avoid medical tension.
The statistics of the number of infected people will be changed to "fixed-point grasp" calculated based on the reports of specific medical institutions. From now on, you will not need to wear masks indoors.
At the same time, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on December 27 that for those who have been ordered to stop working due to the new crown epidemic, but have not received the suspension allowance, the state will provide "suspension support funds and benefits" System, the deadline for the suspension period of the payment object is the end of March 2023, and the deadline for application is the end of May.
This subsidy is applied directly to the state by workers, and informal workers in large enterprises are also targeted. With the resumption of economic activities after the epidemic has eased, most companies have resumed normal operations. This subsidy system, which was newly established in the summer of 2020 due to the spread of infections, will come to an end next year.
This new year will be the first time in Japan in three years that there will be no movement restrictions due to the new crown epidemic. Starting from December 28, various places have entered the peak period of travel at the end of the year and the beginning of the year.
According to Narita Airport, more than 618,000 people made reservations for entry and exit from December 23rd to January 5th, which is expected to be more than 12 times compared to the same period last year.
According to JR companies, the Shinkansen reservation rate at the end of the year and the beginning of the year is 37.9%, and the total number of reserved seats is 2.32 million seats, which has recovered to nearly 80% before the epidemic. It is estimated that the travel peak will be on the 29th and return in January 2nd and 3rd.
However, everyone should pay attention when traveling at the end of the year. Seasonal flu has appeared in many places in Japan for the first time in three years.
In the week ending December 18, the number of influenza patients reported by medical institutions across the country was 2,592, and 29 collective infections occurred in schools and social welfare facilities in Tokyo.
Following Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Kanagawa , Iwate Prefecture , Toyama Prefecture , Aomori Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Hokkaido , Gunma Prefecture , Yamanashi Prefecture announced that will enter During the season of seasonal flu, Tokyo raised the vigilance of the medical care delivery system to the highest level.
Relevant fever clinics in Tokyo said that there were almost no flu patients last year, but 1 out of 10 people who came to the clinic this winter was diagnosed with flu. Dr.
said that "it may be difficult to buy therapeutic drugs at the end of the year and the beginning of the year", and urged everyone to take precautions and prepare kits and antipyretic and analgesic drugs in advance.
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