Article by: anees

Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said about measures for the "7th wave" and thoughts on close contacts and behavior restrictions. 

Governor Yoshimura "The waiting period for close contacts should be abolished." "7th wave" Assuming that the number of newly infected people in Osaka Prefecture will reach 30,000?

　Infection with the new coronavirus has spread rapidly nationwide, and the number of newly infected people has exceeded 20,000 in Osaka Prefecture. In the third "Summer of Corona", on MBS "Yonchan TV" broadcast on July 22, we asked Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura about measures for the "7th wave" and thoughts on close contacts and behavior restrictions. 

"BA.5 has a strong ability to spread infection, so be very cautious."

　――― Looking at the changes in the number of new coronavirus infections in Osaka Prefecture, the number was 20,047, the highest number ever (* at the time of on-air) on July 21st. The number of people exceeded 19,000 on the 22nd. From July 11th to 17th, BA. 5 systems or BA. The rate at which suspicion of 4 strains was detected is about 60%. How do you see the number of newly infected people hitting a record high while the replacement is not completely over?

　"I think that the infection will still spread. This time, BA.5 of the Omicron strain has a very strong ability to spread the infection, and it tends to be easy to infect and spread. BA.5 works. However, it is our experience so far that the number of infections tends to increase until this replacement progresses when a mutant strain appears. Now it is 60%, so it will be about 80%. It will increase until it goes on, so now it is a very large number of 20,000 people, which is the highest number ever, but I think that the number will increase further next week and when it reaches the highest number ever. I am very cautious because the current situation is that it will increase unless it is done and because the infection spread power of BA.5 is strong.

　――― In the 7th wave, how much will the highest number ever be updated in Osaka Prefecture, and how much will the number of newly infected people reach the peak?

　"It's very difficult to predict how much it will increase. However, I think it's very likely that we will reach 30,000. We can assume that to some extent, and maybe even more. It may or may not be possible. I don't know this, but the only thing I can say is that the replacement of BA.5 is still 60%, so there is a high possibility that it will increase more than now. I would like to ask each person to thoroughly implement basic infection control measures. "

"The bed usage rate is likely to increase in the future."

　――― Let's compare the current situation of Osaka Prefecture with the prefecture's standard “Osaka model”. Currently (as of July 22nd), the yellow traffic light is on, the bed usage rate is 43.6% and the severe bed usage rate is 3.9%. Attention is focused on the lighting of the red light, but is this just around the corner?

　"I think the possibility of red light is very high. We indeed have 600 beds for this seriously ill bed, but since it has become an Omicron strain and the vaccine has spread, it is severely ill. The number of people with moderate illness is decreasing, and the number of people with moderate illness is increasing. Therefore, I think that there is a high possibility that the usage rate of beds will increase in the future. Therefore, it may be the expansion of beds. Not only beds, but now beds are There are 4,700 beds including serious illnesses, but what we are working on in Osaka Prefecture is that it is very easy to increase, so there are 10,000 hotels, but 4000 out of 10,000 hotels are doctors. Since it is a medical treatment type hotel where you can stay resident or have a doctor visit you, we have 4000 rooms, so 4000 rooms in the hotel, 4700 rooms in hospital beds, and another important home visit. This is a facility for the elderly. Or, a home visit when an elderly person is at home, 140 medical institutions form a team, so I want to improve the system with such all medical care, and I am strengthening it. However, with the Osaka model, the current trend of increasing infections is that the beds are more likely to become even tighter. "

　――― It is said that 140 medical institutions visit facilities for the elderly, but for example, elderly people living alone, cannot enter the facility, or cannot access such networks because they live alone. What should I do if people become severely ill or become infected?
　
"First of all, we are strengthening the facilities for the elderly quite now. We were in a very difficult situation even in the 6th wave, so we are strengthening the facilities for the elderly, which is also the case for home visits, once every 3 days. We are currently making various efforts, such as having the staff perform the tests once every three days even if they are asymptomatic. 140 medical institutions are doing home visits to the facilities for the elderly as a team.

On the other hand, the elderly 170 medical institutions have formed a team to deal with elderly people who are not in nursing homes and those who are using it at home, so now the health center is also I'm very busy, but the so-called exchanges and health observations at the health center are no longer done by young people. At younger ages like us, we have to do health observations anymore. Even though there are many, we are currently advancing health observations. Under such circumstances, elderly people who are at home should go to 170 home-visit medical teams or have their doctors go to them. I will respond while doing such things. I am doing that now. "

Regarding close contacts, "It is more disadvantageous to detain a person who has no symptoms at home."

　――― It is said that the health center is not conducting an active epidemiological survey to keep track of all the close contacts as before, but on July 22, the waiting period for the close contacts was shortened. Has been decided. Until now, the waiting for close contacts has been to wait for 7 days from the last contact date as 0 days and cancel the 8th day. Of course, it is assumed that there are no symptoms. However, this will be canceled after waiting for 5 days. Moreover, it was shown as a national policy that if the test continues to be negative on the 2nd and 3rd days, it will be canceled on the 3rd day, and the operation will change to this kind of operation. What do you think about the waiting period of "basic 5 days"?

　I'm there, after all. Therefore, it is said that they wear masks or take basic infection control measures and engage in work. I think it is important to be careful and carry out necessary activities in work and society. If it is a medical institution, for example, if you do a test in the morning and you have no symptoms even if you are a close contact and the test is negative, you should act there, or if you do not follow such rules, I think that society will not have it. Therefore, I think that isolation and waiting at home should be abolished for close contact. We are requesting the country as of June 17th. "

　――― On the other hand, Professor Yoshiaki Katsuta of the Kansai University of Social Welfare, who is a doctor and familiar with public health, still does not know what will happen to the mutant strain in the future. Experts say that a waiting period of 5 days is appropriate, as the virus will continue to mutate and become more pathogenic. What do you think about the country's decision to "shorten the waiting period for close contacts" at this time, which is the entrance to the 7th wave?　"If possible, I think it's better to decide before this wave comes, but it can't be helped in terms of results, but after all, the fourth vaccination for healthcare workers. As with that, I think it is important to make a judgment before the wave comes possible. However, even so, the waiting time is shortened from 7 days to 5 days, the reason why society does not hold. , Medical institutions do not work, and various social infrastructures do not work, so I agree with this idea because I am trying to shorten it. It's almost gone. If you're not a positive person, I think it's better to be careful and act as a member of society. "

What are your thoughts on behavioral restrictions? "Currently, I do not intend to request a state of emergency."

　――― In response to this “7th wave”, the government has indicated its intention not to restrict its actions. On July 21, the Kansai Regional Union, which is formed by the governors of Kansai, also settled on a policy that does not require behavioral restrictions. On the other hand, after the advisory board of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on July 21, Chairman Takaji Wakita said, "It is time to consider strong behavioral restrictions considering the current infection situation and the scale of future damage (mainly the number of deaths). There was an opinion that it was. " The number of infected people is increasing rapidly. Do you have any plans to request the government to take priority measures such as declaring an emergency or preventing its spread?

　I think that I may ask you to restrict your actions. However, in society as a whole, please stop eating and drinking, and as a way of proceeding, this corona will not disappear, so it may be a little different. In that sense, requesting a state of emergency is not at this stage. However, the content of the state of emergency will also change, so if the state of emergency says "this is what it is," I may agree with it. I don't think it will fit in if you just want to shorten the time at restaurants as you do now. "

――― Until now, I think it was a method in which everyone was restricted in their actions for those at high risk. In the future, I don't think it's possible to say that the restaurant will be shortened or requested to take a leave of absence, but is it okay to understand that there is no such thing as a matter of course?

　"Yes, I won't ask for it unless there's a good deal."

　(Journalist　Yoichiro Tateiwa ) "I think it's very difficult to answer what yoyos, but is there something numerically, for example?"
　"I said that it's difficult to predict the future, so it's not a big deal, but I don't think that Omicron will fit in by requesting only the time reduction of restaurants, for example, and I will do it. That's not the case anymore. However, people in their 70s or older may stop going into such situations. In the sense of a request. Will it become a red light in the future? I don't know if it will fit, but of course, we will make decisions in the situation. The big direction in the future is, of course, to stop the whole society to protect the elderly and high-risk people. I've been here so far. In the case of Delta strains, people of younger ages may have died at home, pneumonia may become severe, or corona pneumonia may have died, but this is true. The number is decreasing considerably. The vaccines are spreading, and the vaccines are in a state of surplus. When thinking that the treatment method has become constant, the younger generation and the active generation are still living. Because there are also cases, I would like you to work hard while taking measures against infection. However, people in their 70s and 80s, those around here, and those with illnesses are at high risk, so I'm a little sorry for these people. During the period of spread of infection, I think it will be very important to stop approaching such a place as a request and protect it. "

　(Yoichiro Tateiwa) "One more question, isn't the governor's authority changed at all? For example, he even said that he didn't need a governor for the quarantine period. You can't say, "Let's stop in Osaka." I think it's better to change this, but what do you think of Governor Yoshimura? "
　"As you say, the governor's authority is a law that is almost uniformly decided by the country. The governor decides the content of the measures based on it the Special Measures Law. Basic measures under the Special Measures Law The policy is to be decided by the country. Therefore, the basic rule is that the governor follows most of the decisions made by the country. After all, the situation is completely different in each prefecture, so like Osaka. There are many elderly people in big cities, and the number of facilities for the elderly is 3700, which is more than 3100 in Tokyo, so there are many facilities with very high risk. It is said that it is very strict, but there are various areas such as areas with a lot of tourists, so I think that it is necessary to create a system that has the right to make decisions so that each governor can easily judge. Because now I can't change it unless the country decides, so I'd like you to change that. "

　――― Even though the governor's authority is limited, Governor Yoshimura, for example, in the past, requested the government to declare a state of emergency and sometimes to request cancellation. In that sense, I feel a bit like a tone down or a distance from the country these days, but how about this area?

　"No, there is no particular distance, so protecting the citizens of the prefecture is the governor's most important job, so I think it is the governor's job to make as many decisions as necessary. There are places where this Omicron has changed a lot since it came out. Another way to say that there is no need to restrict behavior, but what about the medical field? After all, it's getting tighter. When it gets tighter, some people may find it difficult to get medical care. I think I have to say the disadvantages there, for example. Nowadays, children are in a very difficult situation, including outpatients with fever, so it is necessary to properly state such disadvantages and then firmly say, "Let's go in this direction." I think"

　――― Does that mean that you will continue to access the country with the same attitude regardless of the change in the Prime Minister?
　"of course"

51% of people who are aware of infection "worn a mask" ... Osaka Prefecture Questionnaire

　――― Osaka Prefecture conducts a questionnaire using SMS, which is sent to positive people who have a low risk of aggravation. Of the 41% who answered that they had an idea of ​​infection, 51% said they were "masked" about the implementation status of infection control, and "they were well ventilated." Was 36%, and "I was taking a social distance" was 19%. To put it the other way around, there are certainly some people who don't wear masks, more than 60% don't ventilate, and the messages from the prefecture and the governor aren't transmitted. I think you can see that, but how about this area?

　"This is the result of 4000 people answering the questionnaire and 1700 people answering" Yes ", which is the result of the infection. Based on that, there were a lot of voices saying, "I thought I wouldn't get infected, but I was a little off guard in this scene," and what kind of scene was that voice? Many people say that they have been infected without taking social distance in places where there is not enough ventilation and that they were infected at that time. Therefore, it is enthusiastic to have a mask firmly attached. It's okay when no one is there because I have an illness, but according to the questionnaire here, everyone gathered, and even if they gathered in a small space, they had a meeting and had a meal without a mask, and they were infected there. Since the voice is loud, the mask is very important, so I would like to ask for basic measures. Not taking action restrictions does not mean that you do not have to take measures, so basic measures, masks If you haven't washed your hands, squirted, or have an infection, I would like to ask. "

　――― Regarding the younger generation, I think that there will be more opportunities to interact with the elderly, especially during the Obon period, but in Osaka, the third vaccination rate for people in their twenties is about 10% of the national average. The situation is low. At the university, we used to inoculate students in the hall and distribute antigen test kits to people who are doing club activities, but during the summer vacation, we have a “secret plan” to encourage vaccination of some younger generation. "Do you have?

　"I would like the younger generation to be vaccinated as the infection is spreading very much. I used to do vaccinations at universities or dispatched vaccinations, but after all, Compared to older people and middle-aged and older generations, the vaccination rate is lower for the younger generation, but there are some aftereffects, so I would like to have them vaccinated. On July 22 I announced in August that even young people can hit at the large-scale inoculation center in Shinsaibashi, a place where young people can easily gather so that they can receive not only the 4th time but also the 3rd time in August. Now that we are expanding the chances of vaccination, we can also inoculate without reservation, so I would like younger generations to receive vaccination as it is not too late. "

What the governor wants to convey to younger generations and families with small children ...

　――― MBS conducted a survey using the LINE official account and received responses from 12,573 people. Regarding the story of masks, when asked "Have you eaten masks recently?", 41% answered "I've been doing it before", 7% said "I used to do it, but I quit", and "I haven't done it before". Was 13%, and "I have no chance to eat and drink with others" was 39%. On the other hand, we also conducted a questionnaire survey on "whether it is okay to loosen the infection control measures that each person takes this summer compared to last year." This was overwhelmingly high, with 21% saying "I think" and 79% saying "I don't think". Summer vacation is about to begin in earnest, but do you have a message for children, young people, and everyone who has such people in their families?

　"I would like to ask families with small children to see that the number of outpatients with fever for small children, including children and babies, is increasing and it is becoming tight. Although it may be a family member or a nursery school, I would like to ask the younger generation and those with small children to take basic infection control measures, including their families. Also, the direction of not restricting behavior. Although the country has been around for a long time due to sex, I do not intend to request a shorter time at restaurants, but this does not mean that I do not have to take basic infection control measures, so I wear a mask, wash my hands, and gargle. It includes basic infection control and vaccination, but I would like to ask for such measures. It is difficult to convey the medical pressure, but the medical care is now tight and there is a possibility that it will be even tighter in the future. In that sense, it is also the case for those with high risk, and for those with small children, I would like to ask you to thoroughly implement basic measures. "

　――― If this infection situation continues, do you have a vision of when the red light will turn on?
　"We have set standards, so I think we will make decisions based on those standards. We listen to the standards and the opinions of experts and set them. Probably, if we keep it as it is, it will light up next week. I think it's likely. "