Tokyo Governor To Keep Current Covid Case Count System For The Time Being
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko says she will maintain the capital's coronavirus case count system for the time being.
Koike made the remark on Thursday, a day after Japan's government announced a plan to revise its system requiring medical institutions to register infected people's names, birthdates and other details.
It plans to let local governments decide whether to limit their reports to specific groups, such as the elderly and people at risk of becoming seriously ill.
An expert on a panel tasked with assessing the infection situation in Tokyo said the revision could make it impossible to conduct detailed epidemiological analysis and obtain enough important data that would be helpful in policymaking.
He also said patients whose symptoms are light at first could suddenly become seriously ill. He said if such patients are not registered in the system, it would be difficult for administrative authorities to step in and provide them with medical treatment.
Governor Koike said doctors' reports have important functions such as identifying each patient's condition and necessary treatment, as well as infection trends.
The death toll in Tokyo during the week through Monday reached a record-high 176.
A panel of experts tasked with assessing the capital's infection situation decided to keep it and Tokyo's medical system at the highest alert level.