In preparation for the spread of new infectious diseases, Kawasaki City formulates prevention plan and response manual; testing capacity “240 tests per day”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

On the 26th, Kawasaki City reported to the City Council’s Health and Welfare Committee that it had formulated a city infectious disease prevention plan and a city infectious disease response manual in preparation for the next outbreak of emerging infectious diseases, based on its response to the new coronavirus. As measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of emerging infectious diseases, the plan includes building a collaborative system with related organizations on a daily basis and working to develop human resources at public health centers and health safety research institutes.

Previously, only prefectures were required to formulate infectious disease prevention plans, but with the revision of the Infectious Disease Law, cities with public health centers are now required to formulate them as well. The plan period is 6 years starting from 2024.

In the plan, the numerical targets for system development are to increase the capacity of the Health and Safety Research Institute to conduct 240 tests per day, and to secure 735 people to handle the expected workload at the health center for one month from the start of the epidemic. Established. The city also said it will work to establish a health monitoring system to connect people subject to self-restraint with appropriate medical care when their physical condition worsens, as well as a support system such as supply procurement.

At the Health and Welfare Committee, Representative Chihiro Iwakuma (Mirai) expressed her concerns about the bill to revise the Local Autonomy Act that the government is aiming to pass in the current Diet session. The proposed amendment states that in emergencies such as disasters or unknown infectious diseases, the national government can instruct local governments to take measures necessary to protect the lives of citizens, even if there are no provisions in individual laws, and local governments are legally obligated to comply. Contents that are owed. Rep. Iwakuma commented, “The government is interfering with the situation without even knowing what’s going on.It’s better to sort out the issues and see how the revised bill will affect the plan.”

Kazuki Ishiwata, director of the Health and Welfare Bureau, responded, “There are various system reforms in addition to the Local Autonomy Act, but we want to prepare ourselves and organize and consider them so as not to be affected.” (Koko Hojo)