Central Tokyo is seen in this image taken in the capital's Minato Ward. (Mainichi/Kimitaka Takeichi)

       TOKYO -- Hospitalizations in areas of Japan with many coronavirus infections could in principle be limited to patients with severe symptoms and those at high risk of developing them, while people not hospitalized would basically be required to recover at home, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on Aug. 2.

       Infections are climbing in Tokyo in particular, and because the health care system is under strain, admissions to hotels and other accommodation to recuperate from the virus have been limited to specific circumstances.

       Admissions to hospitals and recovery accommodation, which were until now the general response, would be changed to recuperation at home. The move is effectively a change in policy. Their aim is to avoid a strain on the health system amid a fall in infections among older people with a higher risk of serious symptoms and rising infections generally due to the spread of the Delta variant.

       People admitted to hotels for recuperation would be limited only to people who are thought to have circumstances that suggest they could spread the coronavirus with others at home.

       But no criteria or other indices have been put forward to define when someone is "at risk of serious symptoms" and should be hospitalized. Municipal governments and other bodies will rely on the judgment of medical institutions on the ground, and there is expected to be confusion regarding where the line is drawn.

       An individual connected to the government said, "At this rate, the number of beds and accommodation facilities available will become insufficient."

       In the future, staying informed of the state of people recovering at home and how to respond to sudden changes in the condition of people including those with mild coronavirus symptoms will be a serious issue.

       To strengthen efforts to remain aware of infected people's condition, measures will be improved such as by distributing pulse oximeters to patient's homes, having medical visits made to people recuperating at home, and holding online consultations.

       As part of attempts to ensure an expansion in services including medical visits to people's homes and to recovery accommodation, additional funds will be allocated to the medical fees that make up health care institutions' income.

       At the same time, the health ministry says they will secure a system that can ensure people whose symptoms take a sudden turn can be speedily hospitalize. To prevent severe cases developing, the ministry is also set to give antibody cocktail treatments administered to the over 50s and those with pre-existing conditions to patients at home.

       On the evening of Aug. 2, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held a meeting with relevant Cabinet officials including Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Yasutoshi Nishimura, and said, "The biggest issue is ensuring the health care system functions while the number of infections rapidly increases."

       As of Aug. 1, the rate of available beds occupied was 49% in Tokyo. The capital region's Saitama Prefecture was at 57%, with 53% in Chiba Prefecture, 52% in Kanagawa Prefecture and 36% in western Japan's Osaka Prefecture. Particularly in the capital region, usage rates are rising.

       (Japanese original by Shunsuke Kamiashi, Lifestyle and Medical News Department, and Shun Kawaguchi, Political News Department)

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