Photo/Illutration Health minister Katsunobu Kato speaks at a May 1 meeting of the government's panel of experts dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. (Ryuichi Hisanaga)

Health minister Katsunobu Kato reminded the public May 6 that people with minor symptoms of COVID-19 should recuperate at hotels after his ministry learned that nearly 2,000 of these patients were resting at home.

According to the ministry, Japan had 8,711 COVID-19 patients as of April 28, including 5,558 who were being treated at medical institutions, 862 resting in hotels or other lodgings, and 147 staying at social welfare facilities.

But 1,984, or around 20 percent of the total, were still at their homes with minor symptoms despite the ministry’s recommendation that they recuperate in hotels.

The situation for the remaining 160 patients was still being checked.

“I hope people will follow the basic policy of resting at hotels because there will be a need for appropriate measures should their symptoms suddenly worsen,” Kato told reporters on May 6.

The government initially hospitalized everyone who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. But after concerns arose that hospitals would run out of beds to treat such patients, the government on April 2 changed its policy to allow those with minor symptoms to rest at home or other accommodations, such as hotels.

Those with elderly family members at home were given priority for hotel accommodations to recuperate.

However, reports surfaced that people with minor symptoms were spreading the virus to family members or suddenly dying at home. The government again changed its policy on April 23 and recommended that these patients recuperate at hotels or other lodgings to better isolate them and enable quicker medical treatment if their conditions worsen.

Kato also touched upon reports that some patients were being turned away at hotels. He said the ministry will compile conditions that would make it easier for individuals with minor symptoms to temporarily use medical institutions to recuperate.