With 1443 cases of Covid-19, 4 of them critical, Okinawa is facing the need for an extension of the “Spread Prevention Measures.” (19ja22)

Within Okinawa Prefecture on 18 January, 1443 cases of Covid-19 infection were confirmed. As the strength of the infection refuses to decline, Okinawa Prefecture is beset by a rising sense of crisis. With 1443 people newly confirmed with the virus, the rate of infections is nearly double that of the same day last week after the string of holidays. The number of critically infected rose from 3 on the same day last week to 4  this week. In both groups, the critical victims consisted of elderly and patients with underlying medical problems.

 

At priority health care facilities, faced with 511 doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers unable to report for work, 16 hospitals limited emergency medical services and 8 limited general outpatient care. The Prefectural Epidemiological Statistics and Analysis Committee sees the spread of the disease, which started with the 3 day string of holidays including Coming of Age Day, continuing for another week until 23 January. The number of newly infected during that one week is expected to rise from 1,000 and surpass 15,000.


As the strength of the infection refuses to decline, Okinawa Prefecture is beset by a rising sense of crisis. With the elderly and people with underlying medical issues at serious risk, the Prefecture is calling out that it wants those with symptoms to quickly be examined at a health facility.


At this point, the National Government is planning to activate the “Spread Prevention Special Measures” for a period of 3 weeks, starting from 21 January, in Tokyo City and 12 other prefectures. An extension until 31 January is being eyed for Okinawa and three other prefectures where the Special Measures are already in effect. Within the National Government where the view is strong that the extensions are  needed, concrete considerations are being advanced. 


On the morning of 18 January, Governor Denny Tamaki responded to press questions on the Special Measures, “I think I want to consider checking the opinions from this week’s Counter-Measures Headquarters meeting.” When asked if he thought an extension of the Special Measures were needed, he responded, “For that too, after seeing the various conditions, I want to hold discussions.” 


The Prefecture will confirm the National Government’s plan and, after careful consideration of the  infectious conditions at the Counter-Measures Headquarters meeting on 20 January, the governor intends to decide on counter-measures. 


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Television OTV, published Tuesday 18 January 2022 at 19:39

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/45e15288e74111477a7973698d0bd781b3d91adc


Translator’s note:

Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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