The building of Japan's Ministry of Defense in Shinjuku, Tokyo. (Image via Wikipedia)

Japan's SDF nurse to aid Hokkaido

The Japanese Government decided to send some 10 nurses straight from the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) to two medical facilities in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. The action was a response to the shortage faced by the northern Japanese prefecture as it is facing a shortage of health workers amid a recent spike in the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections. The news was confirmed by the Defense Minister, Nobuo Kishi on Tuesday.

With its 330.000 population, Asahikawa recorded a record-breaking daily figure of 50 new COVID-19 infections and six deaths attributed to the pandemic on Tuesday. Kishi stated that the chief of the GSDF Northern Army, having received a request from the Governor of Hokkaido, Naomichi Suzuki, had issued the dispatch order. The nurses, dispatched for two weeks at maximum, are assisting local medical staff in checking body temperatures and treating hospitalized patients.

Facing the spike, per Tuesday, 67% of hospital beds in Asahikawa were occupied meaning about 440 people are treated due to COVID-19 at two hospitals. On Monday, the Mayor of Asahikawa, Masahito Nishikawa, asked the Hokkaido Government to request the dispatch of 10 SDF nurse to aid the city in its critical situation.

On the other hand, the Governor of Osaka, Hirofumi Yoshimura, also made a similar request to the Defense Ministry. Per Tuesday, Osaka recorded 256 fresh COVID-19 infections with 9 deaths. Osaka tabulated that more than 70% of beds for COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms were occupied, a concern that the prefecture will be overwhelmed should no assistance is sent.

Defense Ministry has been helping local government in responding to COVID-19 based on their governor's requests. Previously, the Ministry had dispatched SDF to Okinawa, where the healthcare system was thin in August. Moreover, the SDF were also dispatched in February - March to help disinfect the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, besides other relief efforts.

However, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Katsunobu Kato, stated on Tuesday that Hokkaido's condition is not that bad to be granted a state of emergency. As a matter of fact, urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka are facing a spike in COVID-19 infections since October, with their hospital beds became rapidly occupied, raising concern about possible healthcare system collapse. Per Tuesday, Japan had recorded 47 COVID-19-related deaths, increasing the death toll to 2,458.

Source: https://bit.ly/36VuXiD