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. 2022 Dec 31;4(6):327-331.
doi: 10.35772/ghm.2022.01071.

Towards the light at the end of the tunnel: Changes in clinical settings and political measures regarding COVID-19 from 2021, and future perspectives in Japan

Kohei Kamegai  1 , Kayoko Hayakawa  1
Affiliations

Towards the light at the end of the tunnel: Changes in clinical settings and political measures regarding COVID-19 from 2021, and future perspectives in Japan

Kohei Kamegai et al. Glob Health Med. .

Abstract

Japan has faced seven waves of the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020. Due to the less severe Omicron variant and the high rate of vaccination nationwide, the death rate has declined compared to that due to previous variants. In early 2022, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida devised a new concept entitled "Living with COVID-19", encouraging a new lifestyle of living with SARS-CoV-2. Although treatment and prevention options have increased, the Omicron variant still causes deaths among the most vulnerable population. Before accepting life with SARS-CoV-2, challenges remain, especially with regard to communication, the healthcare system, and vaccination. A society-wide strategy involving multiple stakeholders should be adopted to mitigate the damage and achieve a true world where we are "Living with COVID-19".

Keywords: Omicron variant; communication; healthcare system; living with COVID-19; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A graph of the daily number of cases from August 2021 to the present. During this period, Japan faced the 5th wave due to the Delta variant and the 6th and 7th waves due to the Omicron variant. The number peaked in August during the 7th wave, preventive measures were gradually implemented. The 8th wave began at the end of November 2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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