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12th meeting of the COVID-19 advisory board of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (October 28, 2020).   Document 3

 

Latest infection status, etc

 

Trends in the number of new infections

  • On a national basis, the number of new infections continued to decrease after reaching a peak in the first week of August. After that, it basically remained flat for a while but has been on a slight increase again since October. In particular, increasing trends are seen in Hokkaido, certain areas in the Tohoku and north Kanto regions, Okinawa, etc. This is probably accounted for by the fact that the number of infections has not taken a downward turn in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and the increasing numbers of infections due to clusters of infections in some other regions. We should also note that the movement of people is becoming revitalized.
    Effective reproduction number: It is around 1 in Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido, Okinawa, etc., and the average for the last week exceeds 1 in many regions. On a national basis, it remains at a level slightly exceeding 1.
  • Clusters of infections, which can cause the spread of infection, are becoming more diverse and spreading to local regions as they have been observed not only in entertainment districts in local cities but also in situations where people eat or drink together, workplaces, and communities of foreigners.
  • Regions where the number of infections is increasing or shows signs of having bottomed out, and clusters of infections in local cities have been seen. As the balance between increasing and decreasing factors can be disrupted without taking proper action, careful attention needs to be paid to future trends in infections.

Future actions

  • In regions where the spread of infections or its signs have been observed, factors concerning clusters of infections should be analyzed to take prompt actions. In particular, we need to establish systems for medical treatment and care, etc. to deal with the spread of infections, and to make efforts to prevent the spread of infections at hospitals/facilities.
  • For clusters of infections that can cause the spread of infection, we should continue to take actions at places known to involve a high risk. Since infection may spread through new situations, early and appropriate actions to prevent large-scale clusters of infections or cluster chains are also required, such as the provision of information according to the characteristics of target persons (the provision of information in consideration of language or lifestyle differences in particular), as well as aggressive, widespread tests of relevant local persons.
  • Opportunities to eat or drink together are expected to increase in the future. Therefore, information such as the "5 High-risk Scenes" and the "Ways to Enjoy Eating or Drinking Together while Reducing the Risk of Infection" should be widely provided to the public and society in general to become well known.
  • Under circumstances where social activities are being revitalized, further thorough implementation of basic infection prevention measures such as avoiding the "3Cs" and situations where people speak loudly, and to wear masks indoors and in contact situations between people, strict physical distancing, and thorough ventilation are also required.
  • On a global basis, remarkable spreading of infection has been seen, especially in Europe, etc. As traffic between Japan and foreign countries is gradually resuming, appropriate actions such as handling at quarantine stations, and the provision of information according to the characteristics of persons entering Japan about ways to have medical consultations at the onset, etc. should be taken.
  • Accurate and easy-to-understand information about this infectious disease should also be provided to the public and society in general. We need to actively disseminate the information by utilizing the "10 Findings about CURRENT Status of Novel Coronavirus Infection (draft)."

Figures (Number of new infections reported etc.) (PDF)

Copyright 1998 National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan