TOKYO, Aug 22 (NNN-NHK) – Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), yesterday said, wide swathes of the nation continued to be gripped by a scorching heatwave.
The number of fatalities have risen on an almost daily basis, since the extreme heat began to bake regions across eastern and western Japan.
Yesterday, the weather agency said that the mercury has been soaring since early in the morning, owing to a high-pressure system covering a vast area stretching from Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa through to regions in Japan’s northeast.
The Tokyo metropolitan government confirmed 17 deaths from heatstroke from Aug 13 to Thursday, with the total deaths from heat-related illnesses this month totalling 148.
The Medical Examiner’s Office, the previous day said that, many of the victims are aged in their 70’s and 80’s, with the majority of the fatalities occurring indoors with the victims known to have not been using air-conditioners.
With the capital of 14 million already grappling with a new lifestyle, amid the resurgence of COVID-19, head of Japan Medical Association, Toshio Nakagawa, urged those in Tokyo to also take preventative measures against heatstroke this summer.
Nakagawa said, the elderly were particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses, with those living alone at particular risk. He pointed out, they are more prone to becoming dehydrated in the heat, as they “tend to be less sensitive to temperatures.”
As for the wearing of masks amid the virus outbreak here, Nakagawa said that, this was also contributing to the increasing rate of heatstroke cases.
He suggested that people can remove their masks, but only if social distancing measures can be appropriately adhered to.
Nakagawa also said that, rooms should be well and frequently ventilated when air-conditioners are being used.
Calling on Tokyo residents to take his warnings seriously, he pointed out that recently more people have died from heatstroke than COVID-19.– NNN-NHK
