Okinawa Governor Tamaki, about to raise the Covid warning level, notes, “It’s good to keep on the alert.” (20de22)


Splendor of Okinawa: Catharanthus, roadside Uruma, 8de22


On 19 December, Okinawa Prefecture held its Experts Committee on Covid-19 (chaired by Prefectural Department of Public Health and Environmental Research Director Hideki Kuniyoshi). The committee discussed items such as raising the warning level to agree with the Prefecture’s epidemic prevention measures criteria. Although the spread of the disease is not wide right now, the Prefecture’s criteria for Covid hospital bed use has continued to surpass the rate of 30%.


Before the end of this year and the beginning of next year, the committee members expressed the conviction by and large, “It’s appropriate to raise the level.” On 22 December, the Covid Response Headquarters Committee will formally make the judgment. 


Currently the warning level is 1 (a lull in the spread). However, within the prefecture since November, there has been a tendency toward a gradual rise. The rate of hospital beds in use has also continued to worsen. So, the Prefecture is considering raising the warning level up one to, “Onset of widespread contagion.”


Although the members say, “For the past few days, the rate of infections has fallen,” there are concerns over mutation to a variant. Diseases peculiar to winter, such as myocardial infarction, could also result in a shortage of hospital beds. So, they have judged it appropriate to raise the level. 


Governor Denny Tamaki opined, “During the end of year and start of the new year period, family groups gather. If only to keep people alert to the danger, it’s good to raise the warning level, wouldn't you think?”


Along with the rise in the warning level, the Prefecture is planning to call for out-patient fever examinations targeting those of high risk of disease. In order to avoid burdening health care facilities, the health checks will begin with those pregnant or under dialysis, those with underlying conditions and the elderly, and children under school age with serious illness. Patients, other than the above, will be relegated to self-care or care at home.


The Prefecture touted a vaccination rate of 70% for those over 60 by the end of December. But currently, as of 15 December, the rate is no higher than 32.05%. The committee members also proposed putting more force into third vaccinations for those in their 30s and 40s of the weak labor market working generation.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Tuesday 20 December 2022 at 09:23

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2f1c3e1dc4f91cd7a0f3a957569e71204eeb804a


Denny in the News: news about 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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