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“Active epidemiological investigation has lost meaning,” said Yamada, manager of the Kanagawa Prefectural Crisis Medical Countermeasures Headquarters (right) = at the Kanagawa Prefectural Office on the afternoon of the 8th (photographed by Shota Shimura)
Kanagawa prefecture announced on the 8th that the objective of the “active epidemiological survey” to investigate the infection route of the new coronavirus and close contacts will be significantly reduced throughout the prefecture from the 9th. People involved in hospitals, facilities for the elderly, healthcare facilities, etc., which have a high risk of aggravation when the infection spreads to the surrounding area, will continue to simplify the investigation, but in principle, do not investigate more than that. According to the prefecture, it is the first time in Japan that it has lowered the survey target for the entire prefecture. (Shota Shimura)
◆ It is the first time in Japan that it has lowered the survey target across the prefecture.
In the prefecture, the number of infected people exceeds 500 per day and the rate of infection by unknown route remains above 60%. Active epidemiological investigations are aimed at asking infected people about their behavioral history, finding people they have contacted, and preventing the spread, but Yoshino Yamada, manager of the Crisis Medical Countermeasures Headquarters, said: “No it matters where the infected person is. The period has passed. Active epidemiological investigations have lost meaning. “
Interviews conducted by the health center can take half a day for an infected person. The health center also manages the health of the people who are being cared for in accommodation and at home, and thought that “work should be prioritized.”
◆ The impact may extend to other prefectures
Even hospital officials who continue to investigate will not be interviewed about personal dinners and event participants. For those involved in schools, kindergartens, and nurseries, decide whether to investigate depending on the situation, such as the risk of spreading the infection. We do not interview other infected people.
Until now, if there were close contacts outside of the prefecture, they would contact the prefecture, but since they will no longer be in contact, the impact may spread to the whole country.
In November last year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare issued an administrative contact saying that active epidemiological investigations could be prioritized.
