The number of new coronavirus infections continues to decline nationwide, but in Tokyo, the rate of decline has slowed and has leveled off. Among the viral variants, the proportion of the Omicron strain derivative “XBB.1.5” has gradually increased. From the 13th, wearing a mask, which has been recommended as a countermeasure against infection, has been left to individual judgment regardless of indoors or outdoors.
◆Be cautious at the turn of the fiscal year
According to a summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of new infections nationwide for the week (11th to 17th) was about 54,000, 0.81 times more than the previous week. The total number of people in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba was about 12,000, an increase of 0.89 times from the previous week.
Tokyo’s week-on-week rate was 0.91 times, and the metropolitan monitoring conference pointed out that it was “almost flat.” On top of that, he called out, “Since the end of the fiscal year and the new fiscal year will be approaching, there will be more movement of people, so it is necessary to continue basic infection prevention measures.”
According to the genome (total genetic information) analysis of the capital, the ratio of XBB.1.5, which is said to have a stronger ability to bypass immunity, is increasing. Increased from 0.4% in January to 3.1% in February. On the other hand, BA.5, which has been the mainstream until now, has decreased from 44.8% to 33.4%. In the week ending February 27, XBB.1.5 increased to 7.8%. (Tomoyasu Sakakibara)
◆Wearing a mask is a “personal decision”
The wearing of masks, which has been recommended as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus, has been eased from the 13th. While the government is entrusting it to “individual judgment” regardless of whether it is indoors or outdoors, it is still recommended to wear it in crowded trains and at medical institutions.
On the 17th, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology notified boards of education nationwide of a new guideline that, in principle, students and teachers at elementary, junior high and high schools do not have to wear masks from the new semester in April. (Toshi Yamaguchi)
Suspected cases of adverse reactions “Continued to be settled in the future”
At a press conference on the 13th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that a special committee of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare accepted a report that “a causal relationship with the vaccine cannot be denied” regarding a woman (42) who died after being vaccinated with the new coronavirus. In response, he said, “We will continue to strive to collect cases of suspected adverse reactions,” and, “We will continue to inform those who are eligible to be vaccinated to consider vaccination.” The vaccination rate for the Omicron strain vaccine was 44.3% as announced on the 16th. (Shunsuke Inoue)
Tags: Tokyo number infections remains flat proportion Omicronderived XBB .1.5 increases Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web
