Photo/Illutration Novel coronaviruses seen under an electron microscope (Provided by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

With Japan in the grip of a fresh outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the 11th to date, experts are urging people to take every precaution, especially with the blistering summer heat.

Recurring outbreaks of the virus in summer usually peak in August, when the mercury is at its height.

The latest wave is expected to coincide with an increase in heat stroke cases, and experts are calling for continued infection control measures.

The number of newly infected cases reported from fixed-point medical institutions totaled 55,072 for the week ending July 14, the health ministry said July 19 in its latest update on the infection situation.

It marked the 10th consecutive week of increase and matched the same level as the same period last year.

The number of people needing to be hospitalized is also rising rapidly.

Reports from fixed-point medical institutions showed that 3,081 people were hospitalized in the week ending July 14, doubling the number from three weeks earlier and exceeding 3,000 for the first time in five months, since mid-February.

WHY NOW?

Atsuo Hamada, a visiting professor of infectious diseases at Tokyo Medical University Hospital, cited climatic influences for the repeated waves of the virus not only in winter, but also in the summer.

“The temperature rises, and people often stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms. This can lead to poor ventilation and dense air circulation,” he said.

In addition, mutant strains that are more likely to spread infection continue to emerge.

The current mainstream strain is called KP.3, a mutant strain derived from the Omicron strain.

According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, it accounted for around 75 percent of the infections between May 27 and June 23.

It is believed to have stronger immune evasion properties than previous Omicron strains.

Hamada said, however, that the symptoms are not becoming more severe.

But he warned that the infection will likely “spread this summer as it did last year, reaching its peak after the Bon holiday week.”

Hamada added that, “Elderly people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill should avoid crowded places, and those of other generations with a symptom should take time off work.”

He urged people to “continue to wash their hands and take other infection control measures to prevent the spread of infection.”

Vaccination against the virus is scheduled to begin in each municipality around Oct. 1, according to the health ministry.

The vaccination will be available to persons aged 65 and older, and to people aged 60 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.

The out-of-pocket fee for the vaccination is expected to be around 7,000 yen ($44).

(This article was written by Yoshinori Hayashi and Kazuya Goto.)

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