Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike announced Thursday that the metropolitan government will prioritize the hospitalization of severely ill or high-risk COVID-19 patients, reflecting the central government’s controversial policy shift from earlier this week.
On Monday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said those with moderate symptoms will now in principle be asked to isolate themselves at home.
The central government’s major policy change was met with swift opposition from the public, major media outlets and Suga’s own political party due to concerns that moderately ill patients can worsen suddenly and unexpectedly, and that the shift could make it logistically difficult for infected people to receive treatment.