Coronavirus Measures Show Varying Effects
A group of researchers in Japan say the effects of strict measures imposed to reduce coronavirus infections have varied across prefectures, with Osaka higher than Tokyo.
The researchers from National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University and others studied how long it took for new cases to decline after an emergency or quasi-emergency, a step before an emergency, were imposed since April.
They analyzed the data between the 8th and 16th days after the measures began in targeted prefectures.
They say clear declines were seen Osaka, but Tokyo did not show statistically significant declines although the pace of the increase slowed down.
The team also calculated the average number of people who can be infected by one person, an index to show the degree of transmissibility. Figures below one suggest a declining trend of infections.
The figures became below one within a week after the beginning of measures in six of the 16 prefectures where quasi-emergency measures were imposed. The estimated rate of decrease was 2 to 19 percent from before the measures.
In the 10 prefectures where a state of emergency was declared, nine, except for Okinawa, saw the index going below one with the estimated declining rate of 26 to 39 percent. That indicates a stronger effect compared to quasi-emergency measures.
Suzuki Motoi, the head of the institute's Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, said it is more difficult for Tokyo than Osaka to contain the spread of the virus because it is more densely populated and sprawling.
He noted that cases fell in Osaka possibly because its people voluntarily refrained from moving about, after hearing of hospital bed shortages following the sharp rise in infections.