COVID-19 is forcing some Japanese hospitals to limit conventional care
With medical facilities full of coronavirus cases, doctors are scheduling fewer surgeries and ambulances search longer to find an emergency room that has space.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is set to soon conduct a survey on extra work hours for hospital doctors, ahead of the April 2024 introduction of overtime regulations.
Continued strain on Japan's medical system raises uncertainty over end of quasi-emergency
Highlighting the concern, the occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients was above 50% in 19 of the 31 prefectures as of Monday and over 80% in Osaka and Fukuoka.
Japan's revised coronavirus policy calls for toddlers to wear masks
The wearing of masks by young children is recommended for those age 2 or older "on a temporary basis, to the extent possible based on their development."
The council's proposal includes fee changes to facilitate the resolution of problems highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis and promote cooperation among medical institutions.
COVID-19 patients may be allowed to leave the hospital in four days
The recommendation to allow COVID-19 patients to start recovering at home or change hospitals early is intended to prevent a strain on medical resources.
A panel wrote in their recommendations that children are "recommended to wear masks when possible," but that it would depend on their individual development.
What you need to know about recovering from COVID-19 at home
To lower the burden on health care systems, the rules for self-isolation are changing — here's a rundown of the latest from the health ministry.
Breaking point: Japan's outpatient clinics overstretched amid omicron surge
The rapid spread of the COVID-19 variant is causing apprehension at the clinics, generally the first stop for individuals to check if they have the virus.
Japan children infected during delta surge hospitalized more often than in earlier waves
The hospitalization rate of children during the delta wave between August and October of 2021 was 14 times higher than during previous waves.
As omicron spreads in Japan, business continuity plans come into focus
Companies and local governments are drawing up measures to keep business going even if many staffers can't work due to infection or being deemed a close contact.
