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The new coronavirus emergency declaration in the metropolitan area of 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures has entered a 2-week re-extension period on the 8th. Focusing on the prevention of rebound (re-spread of the infection), the The government has established new measures such as the expansion of “follow-up tests” such as PCR tests for asymptomatic people. So far, he has been cautious about the expansion, but has corrected course due to the lengthy statement. However, although the number of follow-up inspections is planned for 10,000 per day, their effectiveness for the population size of large cities is unknown. It has been pointed out that the expansion time was lost late. (Kazuki Murakami, Shunsuke Shimizu)
◆ Cancellation starts in 7 prefectures
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced at a press conference on the 5th that the statement was re-extended: “To detect community-acquired infections, we will conduct screening tests for asymptomatic people on a larger scale in large cities in the future.” ..
Follow-up inspections are carried out by the government in cooperation with local governments. Free PCR tests are carried out for asymptomatic people in downtown areas, commercial establishments, universities, etc. in areas where the declaration has been lifted. The purpose is to detect a sign of the spread of infection.
In Tochigi prefecture, where the state of emergency was lifted, it already began in late February. It also started in 6 prefectures like Gifu, Aichi and Osaka, which were later liberated. In Aichi prefecture, a PCR test kit for saliva was distributed to passersby in downtown Nagoya on the 6th.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a press conference on the 8th that “preparations will be made in cooperation with local governments and businesses, such as the selection of inspection sites, with the aim of starting early” with regarding the implementation of 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures.
◆ Criticisms that “by now”
However, the goal of 10,000 people a day is the scale of the entire country. For example, in Tokyo, which has a population of about 14 million, where and how many people will be targeted in Tokyo? There is a question mark as to whether the signs can actually be accurately captured.
In January, the Hiroshima prefecture announced its own plan to conduct a simultaneous inspection of hundreds of thousands of people in the center of Hiroshima city, but the government is cautious about expanding the scale further. In February, the prime minister replied, “It requires considerable cost and medical resources,” to a written question from the cabinet press conference on the evaluation of the Hiroshima prefecture plan.
In the House of Councilors Budget Committee on the 8th, Eiji Kidoguchi of the Constitutional Democratic Party questioned the government’s inspection policy: “Is the content enough?” What has been done. It feels like “by now” “.
◆ Other measures to prevent “bounce”
The prime minister mentioned the expansion of inspections in facilities for the elderly as another measure to avoid the rebound, explaining that “it will be done in about 30,000 facilities at the end of March.” He also emphasized measures against mutated viruses, saying: “Starting this month, we will test new methods that can detect mutant strains in a short time in all prefectures and strengthen the monitoring system.”
Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government’s new Corona subcommittee, announced seven elements of rebound prevention measures, including an explanation from the prime minister, to the three Tokyo prefectures on the 5th. The use of “priority measures such as prevention of spread”, which was recently established by the revised Special Measures Act for Corona, which took effect in February, allows for priority measures including requests and orders to shorten business hours by reducing the area before and after the statement.
Mr. Omi noted that “the metropolitan area has many entertainment districts and diverse communities, and people are anonymous. Rebounds are likely.” “I want you to use these two weeks to strengthen the system and prevent it in some way,” he said.
