コロナ死者、直近１カ月で全体４割　人工呼吸器使えない例も (photo via TheJakartaPost)

Corona victims raises to 40%, some cases includes ventilator that cannot be used

The death toll from the new coronavirus in Japan is increasing at an unprecedented rate. On the 9th, the number exceeded 4,000, including the passengers of Diamond Princess. If the current pace continues, it will reach 5,000 by the end of this month. In urban areas such as Tokyo, it is becoming difficult to accept critically ill patients, and the current situation is that "triage" to prioritize treatment has begun.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, the number of deaths per day (weekly average) was 8 at the end of October last year, but 22 at the end of November and 53 at the end of December. A total of more than 1,500 people have died in the last month until the 10th of this month, accounting for 40% of the deaths caused by the new corona.

While the beds for severe illnesses were tight, some patients could not choose treatment using a respirator in some areas. As of the 5th of this month, there are 111 "severely ill patients" using ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in Tokyo. However, as of the same day, there were 75 other people who were at risk of dying but had no plans for such aggressive treatment, according to people familiar with the matter.

The burden on the medical field is increasing more than the "number of severely ill patients" announced daily. There were about 170 people who were about to need a respiratory system, or who had escaped from the respiratory system but were in an unpredictable state.

Juntendo University professor Ken Hori (Infection Control) says, "Medical care for the severely ill will be even more difficult." Young people often have no symptoms when infected, but "infect the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who are prone to becoming severely ill without their knowledge. They are strongly suggested to avoid places like bars and dine-in restaurants.

Source: https://digital.asahi.com/articles/DA3S14759481.html