Omi kerong swept all over Japan! After the single-day confirmed case exceeded 30,000, 13 places returned to the "quasi-emergency state"

Japan's sixth wave of COVID-19 has officially arrived.

Data compiled by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) shows that the number of single-day confirmed COVID-19 patients recorded in Japan on the 18th exceeded the 30,000 mark for the first time, reaching 32,197. This is the day with the largest number of new confirmed cases in a single day since the outbreak began in Japan. The previous peak in the number of new additions occurred on August 20, 2021, which was a daily increase of 25,990.

At the same time, the number of confirmed cases in 16 places, including Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture, has reached a new high. In the current epidemic in Japan, the epidemic caused by the Omilton strain has accounted for more than 90%, and there are already confirmed patients of the Omil Jong strain throughout Japan.

At present, responding to the epidemic caused by the Aomi Kerong strain has become a top priority for the Kishida government. The latest news shows that the Japanese government will open a quasi-state of emergency in 13 places, including the capital Tokyo, to curb the rapid spread of the Omicron strain. This is the first time that the Kishida government has tightened its epidemic prevention measures.

The "para-emergency" will begin on Friday (21st) and last until 13 February.

The Japanese government also said it would not rule out that more regions would restart the "state of emergency" in the future.

Urgent measures were requested from many places

On the 18th, the epidemic situation in many parts of Japan was "shocking". Tokyo recorded a new high of 5,185 single-day confirmed cases since August last year.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the number of new confirmed cases in recent days has increased fourfold compared with a week ago. In view of the rapid spread of the epidemic, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said that she asked the central government to adopt a "quasi-emergency", such as shortening the opening hours of restaurants, suspending the sale of alcoholic beverages, and asking people to avoid non-essential cross-prefectural travel.

Before the "quasi-emergency" was officially announced, Kishida also said that he had received requests from governors in many places to re-increase the number of epidemic prevention measures. Earlier this month, Japan's prefectures of Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and Okinawa began a "quasi-state of emergency" that lasted from the 9th to the 31st. This is the first time that Japan has adopted such anti-epidemic restrictions since the emergency in most areas was lifted in September last year.

Japan's cabinet chief Hiroichi Matsuno said that 13 prefectures, including Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture, have made similar requests, and the above-mentioned areas are worried that the spread of the epidemic will put pressure on the local medical system.

According to Japanese media reports, Shigeru Omi, president of the Japanese government's novel coronavirus infection countermeasure group, has also met with Kishida to discuss the trend of the epidemic and possible countermeasures.

The US military stationed in Japan is regarded as the "culprit" of the current sixth wave of the epidemic in Japan.

Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng said at a press conference on the 13th that the outbreak of the new coronavirus collective infection inside the US military facilities in Japan is likely to trigger the further spread of the epidemic in the surrounding areas of Japan, "We cannot deny that a large part of the spread of the epidemic is likely to originate from the US military in Japan."

Make every effort to fight the epidemic

On January 17, after the opening of Japan's 208th Regular Diet, Kishida delivered his first policy address at the Plenary Session of the House of Representatives. In view of the rapid spread of the Olmikron strain in Japan, Kishida said that responding to the epidemic is the government's highest priority and will "devote himself wholeheartedly" to overcoming the epidemic as soon as possible.

Kishida said he plans to summarize medium- and long-term measures around June, including how to revise the Infection Disorders Act. At the same time, he stressed that in the future, the focus will be on the domestic epidemic prevention policy, which will combine the characteristics of the Olmikron strain, focus on seriously ill patients, strengthen the medical supply system, and intend to accelerate the work of vaccinating the third dose of the new crown vaccine in advance after March.

Since vaccination work throughout Japan started in February last year, later than in other major countries, the third booster injection was only on the agenda. Previously, the Japanese government said that for the elderly and medical staff who took the lead in vaccinated, the interval between the third dose was shortened to 6 months, and in local governments with spare capacity, people under the age of 65 should be vaccinated in the same way.

At present, in order to prevent imported cases, Japan prohibits new entrants to foreigners in principle. However, in recent days, the Kishida government has also adjusted the above measures, with exceptions allowing some international students to enter the country. According to Japanese media reports, the objects of entry allowed this time are 87 international students who have participated in online courses at Japanese schools in their respective countries, but still need to conduct experiments or research offline and participate in offline courses.

Matsuno said that these students are currently less than a year away from graduation or graduation, and the ban on entry may have an impact on their studies. Therefore, under the premise of implementing adequate epidemic prevention measures, they will be allowed to enter the country on a priority basis from the end of this month.

It is reported that after entering the country, these international students need to complete a 10-day quarantine in a designated hotel, after which they can go to school normally.

As for whether the entry restrictions for other international students will be gradually relaxed, Japanese media said that the Kishida government will pay close attention to the entry of 87 people and then consider it as appropriate.