Govt. To Introduce New System To Combat Ba.5
The Japanese government has decided to introduce a new system to allow the country's 47 prefectures to issue declarations on their own to step up coronavirus measures.
Japan reported a record high of more than 230,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday amid the spread of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant. Tokyo's daily count also topped 40,000 for the first time.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with relevant ministers to discuss ways to tackle Japan's seventh wave of infections.
They shared the view that more people with a fever are coming to hospitals and the burden on medical institutions is increasing at a fast pace.
The ministers agreed on the need to prevent medical institutions from reaching their limits, while maintaining social and economic activities.
Under the new system to be announced on Friday, the country's prefectural governments can issue declarations to combat the BA.5 subvariant when the burden on medical institutions in their area increases, for example, when hospital bed occupancy rates exceed 50 percent.
Under those declarations, local governments will urge residents to take anti-infection measures, such as early vaccinations and remote working. They also may ask elderly people and those with underlying conditions to avoid crowded places.
The government says it will send officials who serve as liaisons to local governments that issued such declarations, when necessary.