[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As concerns over the collapse of the medical system due to a shortage of hospital beds grow in Japan, the country has decided to limit COVID-19 hospitalization treatment to severe cases only.
According to foreign and local media on the 3rd, the Japanese government held a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga the previous day to discuss the medical provision system and decided on new criteria to limit COVID-19 patients eligible for hospitalization treatment to severe cases.
Except for severe cases, home care will be the principle. Prime Minister Suga stated, "We will establish a system where, except for severe patients and those at high risk of becoming severe, home care is the basic approach, and hospitalization will be possible if symptoms worsen."
The new criteria will apply to areas where infections are rapidly spreading, with each local government deciding whether to implement them. In regions where the new criteria are applied, infected individuals not eligible for hospitalization will primarily be classified as home care cases.
Among those designated for home care, if there are special circumstances such as a high risk of transmission within the household, they will receive care at accommodation facilities such as hotels.
Since last month, new confirmed cases in Japan have surged, with days exceeding 10,000 cases, leading some regions to reach a level where medical institutions cannot smoothly accept new patients.
The number of new confirmed cases in Japan as of the previous day was 8,393, marking the highest Monday record ever.
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