EDITORIAL | Take Latest COVID Wave Seriously Before Obon Holidays

A new wave of the COVID is sweeping across the nation. 

Cases of infection by the virus tend to rise markedly in summer and winter. This version is the 11th wave of infection following the one seen in January-February 2024. 

Travel to out-of-the-way places increases significantly during the August Obon holiday season. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures. Those who are not feeling well should consider refraining from returning to their family hometowns or traveling for pleasure. 

According to reports by around 5,000 designated medical institutions throughout Japan, in the week ending on July 21, the average number of infected patients seen jumped to more than 13. That marked the 11th consecutive week in which the case numbers had increased. Kyushu and Okinawa experienced especially pronounced rises. 

In May 2023, the status of COVID-19 under the Infectious Diseases Control Act was downgraded to Class 5. Nevertheless, precautions continue to be needed among the elderly and people with preexisting conditions. 

Daily Precautions Help

This is the time of year when the hot weather takes a physical toll on us. As always, it is important to maintain basic physical strength by getting enough sleep, adequate hydration, and nutrition.

"KP-3" is the type of Omicron virus that is currently prevalent. Reports say the severity of the disease it causes is on par with previous types, but immunity acquired through vaccines and other means is proving less effective. Moreover, it is highly contagious. So we cannot afford to become complacent. 

One reason for the spread of infections during summer is the fact that people tend to spend more time indoors in closed spaces to escape the heat. Air conditioning is of course essential to prevent heatstroke. But, at the same time, frequent ventilation is also necessary. There is no latitude to become lax in our daily countermeasures against infection, including wearing a face mask in congested locations, or washing and disinfecting our hands.

High-Risk Populations

Nursing homes with many elderly persons need to be especially attentive as far as preventing infection is concerned. Cluster infections can do enormous damage. These facilities also need to receive regular guidance from medical institutions and establish a system for medical personnel to make house calls in a COVID outbreak. 

Starting this spring, medical institutions and nursing care facilities qualify for generous compensation if they build such partnerships. However, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare should not just set the compensation amount and leave it at that. It must also check with the prefectures regarding the progress made in this kind of collaboration. 

Combatting Increased Disease Outbreaks

This current COVID outbreak is not the only pressing problem we face. Hand, foot, and mouth disease, a typical form of summer cold among young children, is at its highest rate in the past 10 years. Similarly, viral infections of herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever are also spreading.

Alcohol-based disinfectants are not very effective, but washing your hands with soap is. There have even been cases in which an adult has become seriously ill after contracting an infection from a child. Hygienic measures to avoid spreading infections at home, such as not sharing towels, should also be adopted. 

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun