Japan is in the grip of another wave of novel coronavirus infections, with new cases surging nationwide.

The number of new cases at designated medical institutions selected for monitoring COVID-19 trends nationwide has increased for 11 consecutive weeks.

The current “11th wave” of infections could surpass last summer’s ninth wave, potentially becoming the largest outbreak since the legal status of COVID-19, which is categorized as an infectious disease under the infection disease law, was reclassified as a Class V contagious disease along with seasonal flu.

The new COVID-19 variant called “KP.3” is at the center of this outbreak. It is said to easily evade antibodies gained from previous infections and vaccinations, crucial components of the immune response.

According to an antibody survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare using donated blood, as of March this year, over 60 percent of people nationwide had antibodies indicating past infection. In Tokyo and Okinawa Prefecture, the figures exceeded 70 percent.

Despite a high percentage of Japanese people having antibodies against the virus, new outbreaks continue to occur and reach their peaks not only in winter but also every summer.

These facts highlight the virus’s amazing staying power, as it continues to mutate and “evolve” in cunning ways.

What is worrisome is the rapidly increasing ranks of hospitalized patients reported by the selected medical institutions. The figures have already surpassed those during last winter’s 10th wave, and the number of critically ill patients that have to be treated in intensive care units (ICUs) is also on the rise.

About half of the hospitalized patients are over 80 years old, but the rise in serious cases is not limited to the elderly. We need to be vigilant and closely monitor cases and trends in response to the potential risk that the virus’s pathogenicity--the ability of an organism to cause disease--is increasing.

The intense summer heat, which is overlapping daily, has also kept the number of difficult emergency transport cases reported to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency high.

Soon, we will enter the Bon festival period, when hospitals and clinics reduce their operations. Each local government must check the region’s medical systems for their preparedness to deal with outbreaks in order to prevent situations where a potential patient cannot see a doctor despite having symptoms, or a seriously ill patient cannot be admitted to a hospital. It is also necessary to watch for clusters of positive cases in elderly facilities.

The central government and local administrations should provide swiftly detailed information about the epidemic situation and measures to prevent the spread of infection.

If you are feeling unwell, it is advisable to refrain from going to work or school and avoid participating in events where people gather.

The health ministry recommends that even after infected individuals recover, they should refrain from going out for five days from the onset of symptoms to reduce the risk of passing the virus to others. Such precautions can also help reduce the scale of the epidemic.

Of course, individual efforts to take common sense steps, such as wearing masks according to the situation and regularly ventilating indoor spaces, are also crucial.

Due to the influence of periodical COVID-19 outbreaks, the patterns of other infectious diseases have become irregular.

Last summer saw major outbreaks of herpangina, a viral illness that causes a high fever and blister-like sores in the mouth and throat that tend to spread quickly among children, and pharyngoconjunctival fever, an infectious disease typically caused by certain types of adenovirus that is also commonly seen in children.

This year, hand, foot, and mouth disease, a viral illness characterized by fever, painful sores, and skin rash and also common in young children, is spreading in its biggest outbreak since 2019.

Effective prevention measures for this disease include frequent handwashing and not sharing towels, keeping in mind the risk of droplet and contact transmission.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 30