Japan sees surge in coronavirus infections – NHK WORLD

The number of coronavirus infections is on the rise in Japan, prompting experts to encourage preventative measures during the summer holiday season.

NHK World visited a clinic in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on July 18, where a steady stream of patients suffering fever and other symptoms sought attention.

One man in his 40s with a fever of about 38 degrees complained of a sore throat. Tests confirmed he was infected with the coronavirus. He reported no known exposure.

Out of 24 patients seen that day, 11 tested positive. Ando Sakuro, the clinic's head doctor, said about 10 people have been testing positive every day since the end of June.

Symptoms, including fever and sore throat, resemble those of the common cold, making it hard to distinguish. But Ando warns that COVID-19 is more contagious.

"The summer holidays will bring more opportunities for people to interact with others," he said. "I suggest taking basic infection control measures, such as hand-washing, ventilation and wearing a mask if coughing."

The average number of coronavirus patients confirmed at select medical facilities across Japan for the week ending July 14 was 11.18. That's 1.39 times higher than the previous week, marking the 10th straight weekly increase.

By prefecture, Kagoshima topped the list with 31.75. Saga followed with 29.46 and Miyazaki had 29.34. The figure increased in most of the 47 prefectures.

Hamada Atsuo, visiting professor at Tokyo Medical University and an expert on infectious diseases, said the recent increase in infections can be partly attributed to the KP.3 variant, a type of Omicron strain.

"KP.3 is a virus derived from JN.1 and has become a mainstream epidemic not only in Japan but also in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and the United States. There are reports that it is slightly more contagious than other variants," Hamada said. "The severity of symptoms is not much different from other variants."

He expected the number of COVID patients to increase until around mid-August, as more people visit summer vacation destinations.

"As we enter the epidemic season, everyone should take anti-infection measures, such as thorough ventilation and hand-washing, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible if symptoms appear," Hamada said. "And for the elderly who are more susceptible to serious illness, I recommend wearing masks when out in crowds."

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Japan sees surge in coronavirus infections - NHK WORLD