(The original article in Japanese was posted on September 2, 2022)

On August 24, the Japanese government announced that it might change the current process of confirming the total number of new cases of COVID-19 infection. If any changes are made, each municipality can simplify what to fill in the notification forms at its own discretion except for the information about those at high risk of serious illness. In reaction to this announcement, concerns have been raised about the situations of sudden changes in the medical conditions of patients with minor illnesses and the deterioration in administrative services for those who receive care or heal themselves at home. Furthermore, criticism has been voiced that the responsibility is being shifted to local governments. The national government immediately made a statement saying that “The new system will be introduced uniformly throughout the country in principle.” to attempt to quell the negative public’s reactions. However, only four prefectures expressed their willingness to accept the “change of the current process” by the deadline notified for the start of operation on August 31, which was originally scheduled. Ten prefectures responded that the process should remain unchanged, while 33 prefectures suspended their decision.

Health professionals’ hope to reduce the burden of administrative work is understandable. However, was not collection of the “data” designed in the first place by the doctors and experts in epidemic prevention themselves as basic statistics for making scientific policy decisions? Not just for verification of the effectiveness of voluntary restraints on restaurant business and travel restrictions, “big data” is also useful for medical and epidemiological research on infectious diseases and for considering how medical care should be provided through cooperation among different medical institutions and professionals in case of emergency. The first thing to be done to strengthen the support for those working in medical settings by improving input interface, introducing agents for paperwork processing to lessen the workload of medical professionals, or some other way. In order to prepare for future crises, the system for acquiring data that can reliable enough for scientific verification should be maintained as much as possible.

On the other hand, the government is taking actions for shortening the period of treatment and rest for those who tested positive, allowing asymptomatic patients to go out, and easing border control measures. Such relaxation of regulations is going to be made based on the government’s recognition that the “seventh wave” has already started to subside. However, even if those who tested positive for COVID-19 are allowed to go out, COVID-19 will still be categorized into “Category II Infectious Diseases.” In the first place, I wonder why the government intends to change the current process of confirming the total number of new cases of infection in the current situation where the measures for those who tested positive has been relaxed. I find it hard to believe that policy decisions have been made based on the same data. I even suspect that, when the government make changes in their policies, it just takes opinions from different bodies or groups such as the Japan Medical Association (JMA), the National Governors’ Association, and financial circles in order of loudness of voice.

According to press reports, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) will let healthcare workers use faxes and emails for now as tools to count the total number of new cases until modifications to the system responsive of changing the current process of confirming the total number of new cases of infection are completed. I remember that one of the structural problems that became apparent in the situation of the spread of coronavirus infection was the delay in digitalization. At least, as far as I can see from the outside, the “non-tech-savvy” nature of the administrative system, including the opacity of the decision-making process, has not yet changed at all for the better. I as the author of this post wrote “Timeline Chart That Shows the Days to Normal Life is Desired” in another post* on January 29, 2021. We cannot fight an unknown virus without knowing where we stand. It has been two years and eight months since the first case of infection was confirmed in Japan. An overall scenario to end the pandemic based on the experience we have gained during this period of time and the latest scientific findings needs to be urgently established and shared with the public as soon as possible.

*This Week’s Focus “Key to Overcome the Challenge of Coronavirus Crisis – Timeline Chart That Shows the Days to Normal Life is Desired” (January 29, 2021)

This Week’s Focus, September 2

Takashi Mizukoshi, the President