Aug 04 2023
The rainy season is over, and summer has been in full swing. This summer, in particular, is extremely hot with a heat stroke alert issued almost every day.
Some three months have passed since the Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease (COVID-19) was reclassified as Class 5, the same as seasonal flu. It is great to see us slowly resuming a normal life like before COVID-19. There has been less media coverage of COVID-19, making us feel as if the pandemic is over. But, the reality is that, similarly to last summer, COVID-19 infections have been on the increase, closing in on an alert level.
In fact, since July, more and more people in Japan have been infected with an XBB variant, which is antigenically different from other Omicron variants and highly transmissible, and the infection cases have risen in Niigata Prefecture particularly recently as well. The same trend has been identified from the statistics of COVID-19 cases recorded by our Health Administration Center. Experts warn that cases of the new variant may continue to rise this summer, reaching their peak late August or early September. Also, to be noted is that, unlike other nations, Japan has not yet reached a full herd immunity against the coronavirus.
People infected with this new lineage will develop less pneumonia but may instead have a fever and a severe sore throat. The symptoms will be relatively mild for young people and are unlikely to become serious. And yet, they may have difficulty eating and drinking because of a pain in the throat and could suffer an array of health problems due to dehydration from the summer heat and fever.
Many of you are planning to go and see your parents or attend a training camp for a school club activity during this long summer vacation. Please enjoy your summer but always keep this pandemic situation in mind. You do not have to be too nervous. But, all you need to do is to continue take basic preventive measures, such as wearing a mask as needed, disinfecting your fingers and hands, and ventilating air. If you do not feel well, stay home. Make your plans carefully, considering that it is difficult to see a doctor particularly during the Obon period (mid-August).
I strongly suggest that you have in place antigen test kits, oral rehydration solution, antipyretics (fever reducers), and other medical necessities.
Our official website contains links to infection-related websites of the national government and those of local governments. Our Health Administration Center’s website* provides information on how to respond when feeling unwell and when testing positive(*available only in Japanese). Again, please remember that Covid-19 is not over yet. Take good care of yourself, be careful of heat stroke, and make this summer a fruitful one.
