COVID cases surge in Okinawa amid concern over possible medical system collapse

This electron microscope photo shows the coronavirus's omicron variant successfully isolated at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. (Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases)

TOKYO -- The number of coronavirus infections has been on the rise across Japan again, and the situation is especially serious in Okinawa Prefecture, with one health care expert saying, "The medical system could collapse as early as next week, where people who need to be hospitalized cannot be admitted."

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on June 23 that the number of new COVID-19 cases reported from about 5,000 medical institutions nationwide for fixed-point observations between June 12 and 18 stood at 5.60 per institution. This is 1.10 times the number reported the previous week, and case numbers have been on an upward trend. The infection situation in Okinawa Prefecture is particularly serious, forcing restrictions on emergency medical services.

The number of patients in Okinawa Prefecture from June 12 to 18 was 28.74 per medical institution, a 4.73-fold rapid increase in just over a month since immediately after the status of COVID-19 was downgraded to "category 5," or the same level as seasonal influenza, under Japan's infectious disease control law. According to the prefectural government, the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients has exceeded 500, already surpassing the eighth wave of infections in January of this year.

Yoshihiro Takayama, a doctor at Okinawa Chubu Hospital's internal infectious diseases and community care department, pointed out, "In addition to the spread of community-acquired infections, there is a shortage of medical personnel due to infections, and hospital-acquired infections are putting pressure on medical care."

Furthermore, the fact that the prefectural government no longer coordinates hospitalizations after the shift to category 5 has added to the difficult medical care situation, according to Takayama. He added, "It is necessary to organize the treatment of patients, such as having patients recuperate at home or at a facility, or treating them at a local hospital depending on symptoms and risk, so that patients will not be concentrated at emergency medical facilities."

On June 21, the Okinawa Prefectural Government asked residents to prepare test kits and fever-reducing medicines in advance and to refrain from visiting emergency rooms for those with minor symptoms in order to protect emergency medical services. Takayama commented, "We hope that people with symptoms such as fevers will cooperate in preventing the spread of infections by not going to events or drinking parties. Elderly people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill should refrain from gathering with others during the current outbreak."