Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 25, 2024 3:11:02 GMT
Japan battling 11th COVID wave, data shows, as KP.3 variant evades immunity - Published July 24, 2024
Japan appears to be experiencing its 11th wave of COVID-19 infections, with new infections increasing for 10 consecutive weeks amid the rise of a highly transmissible new coronavirus variant.
As other infectious diseases are also spreading — such as hand, foot and mouth disease, which is growing at a record pace, mostly among children — the health ministry is calling for people to take basic infection control measures, such as washing hands and wearing face masks when necessary.
COVID-19 cases have been increasing since early May. The total number of new cases in regularly monitored medical institutions across the country reached 55,072 in the week through July 14, according to the ministry.
The number of new cases per institution was as high as 31.75 and 29.46 in Kagoshima and Saga prefectures, respectively, both in the Kyushu region. The number of newly hospitalized COVID-19 patients at regularly monitored institutions exceeded 3,000 for the first time in about five months.
Since Japan's first COVID-19 case was confirmed in January 2020, infections have surged not only in winter but also in summer, when people spend time in air-conditioned rooms that are difficult to ventilate. During one wave of infections that began in July 2021, many people died at home because they could not be hospitalized.
In August 2022, when the BA.5 omicron subvariant was rampant in Japan, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide hit a record high of about 260,000.
The current wave of infections could last until around early September, given that the number of new cases per institution peaked at 20.50 in early September last year.
Behind the current wave is believed to be the emergence of the KP.3 variant, which is related to the JN.1 omicron subvariant. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, KP.3 accounted for 75% of new cases surveyed by private testing organizations between May 27 and June 23.
According to the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science, KP.3 is more capable of avoiding immunity acquired through vaccination or natural infection.
On Monday, the ministry held a hearing with experts on the nationwide infection situation and the state of medical services. Although the country is not currently facing a medical crisis, experts urged people to remain vigilant against COVID-19 infections.
"Elderly people and those with underlying conditions are at high risk of developing severe symptoms if infected," a ministry official said.
Japan appears to be experiencing its 11th wave of COVID-19 infections, with new infections increasing for 10 consecutive weeks amid the rise of a highly transmissible new coronavirus variant.
As other infectious diseases are also spreading — such as hand, foot and mouth disease, which is growing at a record pace, mostly among children — the health ministry is calling for people to take basic infection control measures, such as washing hands and wearing face masks when necessary.
COVID-19 cases have been increasing since early May. The total number of new cases in regularly monitored medical institutions across the country reached 55,072 in the week through July 14, according to the ministry.
The number of new cases per institution was as high as 31.75 and 29.46 in Kagoshima and Saga prefectures, respectively, both in the Kyushu region. The number of newly hospitalized COVID-19 patients at regularly monitored institutions exceeded 3,000 for the first time in about five months.
Since Japan's first COVID-19 case was confirmed in January 2020, infections have surged not only in winter but also in summer, when people spend time in air-conditioned rooms that are difficult to ventilate. During one wave of infections that began in July 2021, many people died at home because they could not be hospitalized.
In August 2022, when the BA.5 omicron subvariant was rampant in Japan, the daily number of new COVID-19 cases nationwide hit a record high of about 260,000.
The current wave of infections could last until around early September, given that the number of new cases per institution peaked at 20.50 in early September last year.
Behind the current wave is believed to be the emergence of the KP.3 variant, which is related to the JN.1 omicron subvariant. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, KP.3 accounted for 75% of new cases surveyed by private testing organizations between May 27 and June 23.
According to the University of Tokyo's Institute of Medical Science, KP.3 is more capable of avoiding immunity acquired through vaccination or natural infection.
On Monday, the ministry held a hearing with experts on the nationwide infection situation and the state of medical services. Although the country is not currently facing a medical crisis, experts urged people to remain vigilant against COVID-19 infections.
"Elderly people and those with underlying conditions are at high risk of developing severe symptoms if infected," a ministry official said.