TOKYO, Apr 4 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s health ministry and local governments said, 2,989 people had been infected with the COVID-19 virus as of Friday evening, with the daily number of new infections topping 200 for a fourth straight day, adding to concerns the healthcare system here could buckle.
The death toll from the pneumonia-causing virus, currently stands at 86 people, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship, that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.
Of the 2,989 confirmed COVID-19 infections, 773 cases are in the capital city of Tokyo, with 89 new cases confirmed Friday, amid concerns about spikes in urban areas in Japan, overloading the healthcare system.
Tokyo metropolitan government, along with healthcare specialists said, the number of hospital beds available for the virus patients will soon reach capacity, with the health ministry rapidly trying to secure more.
Adding to pressure on the government to demonstrably bolster its preventive and counter measures to the spread of the virus, a panel of government experts warned this week, the country’s healthcare system could collapse if the virus cases here continue to spike.
The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures is under increased strain, and “drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible,” the experts concluded.
Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, took a cautious approach to declaring a state of emergency, as doing so could infringe on the rights of people, although the prime minister acknowledged that, “It’s critically important to prevent a sharp rise in cases in the Tokyo metropolitan area with a large population, which is at the centre of economic activity.”
Abe said, the infections are not at a point necessitating a declaration of a state of emergency, although he said the nation is “on the brink.”
“At this point, we have not seen infections spreading rapidly and widely across the country. We are just about holding the line,” Abe said.
“But if we lower our guard now, even a little, infections could accelerate suddenly. We continue to be on the brink,” the Japanese leader said.
As cases in Tokyo continue to rise, those in Osaka Prefecture are also spiralling, with 311 new infections confirmed Friday, followed by Tokyo’s neighbouring prefecture of Chiba with 206 cases. Kanagawa Prefecture, meanwhile, recorded 205 COVID-19 cases, the latest figures showed.
The health ministry also said, there are currently a total of 72 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators, to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units.– NNN-NHK
