Japan's Holiday Season Impacted By 7th Wave Of Coronavirus Infection
People in Japan are experiencing another surge in coronavirus cases. The 7th wave of infections is hitting the holiday season.
Health authorities reported over 126,000 new cases nationwide on Monday. That's down from last week's record high of more than 200,000. The dip could be due to the fact that fewer tests are processed over weekends.
Infections among medical workers are weighing on the healthcare system, especially in the southern prefecture of Okinawa. More than 100 of the 1,400 staff members at Yuuai Medical Center are unable to work due to the virus. Doctors say the shortage means they have to conduct fewer operations, including those that are urgently needed.
Yamauchi Sunao, a doctor at the hospital, says, "Here in Okinawa, we're unable to provide adequate medical care to those in need. We can't save lives that we could normally save. We feel miserable."
The doctor also says the holiday rush is increasing the strain on the prefecture's healthcare system. He says some tourists are calling emergency services for non-COVID reasons, such as over-drinking and heatstroke.
He urges potential visitors to think carefully before making the trip.
Throughout the country, the surge is hitting public transportation ahead of the peak of the vacation season.
A railway operator in southwestern Japan says staff shortages have forced it to cancel 120 express trains over the next 10 days starting Wednesday.
Officials with JR Kyushu say dozens of workers have been forced to stay home after testing positive for the coronavirus, or having close contacts. The railway says it may extend the cancellation period, if COVID-19 continues to impact staffing.