TV review: Pandemic: A World in Turmoil (2) “The Virus Strikes: 132 Days on the Brink — Part 2
From the declaration of a state of emergency to the lifting
.
Since there are reading record apps for reading, but not for TV/video, I made a list by theme, recording my impressions of the TV shows I have watched so far. I prefer to watch NHK’s science programs, which are easy to watch and understand, and are relatively free of fakes.
Series “Pandemic: A World in Turmoil”
A special program to track political and social changes related to Covid-19. Since its first edition in August 2020, the program has also continued to cover fixed points, continuously tracking the social changes caused by Covid-19..
2020/8/30放送 パンデミック 激動の世界 （２）「ウイルス襲来 瀬戸際の１３２日－後編－」
(2020/8/30 Pandemic: A World in Turmoil (2) “The Virus Strikes: 132 Days on the Brink — Part 2)
In the 1–2 issues, the report shows at the 132 days from mid-January to the lifting of the state of emergency in May. I expected examination of the testimonies of the people involved.
“Economic or Infection control measures”
The report revealed that there was some behind-the-scenes bargaining between the experts and the government.
This program officially opens summary →here
＜impressive episodes＞
●Bargaining between experts and government to declare a state of emergency
The figure from the perspective of infectious diseases is “80% reduction in human contact” to avoid overshoot.
However the interview showed that the government had a strong will not to say “80% reduction”. In contrast, Dr. Omi’s concession of “80% as much as possible”.
Ah, Kasumigaseki literature.
This was partly due to the way the program was structured, but it was hard to bear in mind that some people died because they could not get through to the public health center for two days while this game was being played.
.
●PCR testing, a hot-button issue, is bottlenecked by health centers.
The public health center acts as a contact point for people who are suspected of being infected, and determines the necessity. This was their function. There was no way they could cope with that much work when their functions had been reduced.
“It would have been easy to die of overwork,” I think it’ true, and now, more than a year later, the situation is still very tight.
保健所職員が労基署に通報…
コロナ対応で「時間外労働の上限超えている」
The news : Health center employee reports to Labor Standards Bureau. Corona response ‘exceeds overtime limit we got in Sep 2021
In response to this harsh situation, the public health centers submitted a request to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on March 6, 2020.
This is a request to narrow down the target population for the investigation of infection routes.
This has not been improved as of press time, Aug 2020.
MHLW cannot narrow down the scope, and the people will not refrain. This shows how hard it is for the health department.
.
●We can’t get supplies…
Masks were in short supply, as Japan were dependent on overseas imports. The automatic PCR equipment was being made by a Japanese manufacturer, but they were unable to deliver a single unit to Japan until August.
However, the French had been investing money in advance for five years. I felt that Japan was no longer in a position to do anything but swallow the strategic lv. of strategic goods.
.
●Japan’s medical system was vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Currently, Japan is facing a declining birthrate and an aging population, and the increasing cost of medical care has become a social problem. In order to cope with this, hospitals are being streamlined, and the number of hospital beds is being reduced in order to prevent long-term hospitalization.
There is not enough capacity to cope with the rapidly increasing number of infectious diseases.
When 71 people were confirmed to be infected in a nursing home, 12 people died in the facility because they could not be hospitalized.
.
●Cannot give any indication of resumption of economic activity.
The business community has asked for a quantitative indication of when economic activity will resume.
I understand how they feel. Without knowing when the economy will resume, managers, who are responsible for the livelihood of many employees, will not be able to make decisions on what to do next.
However, for experts, I think it frightening to show the quotative index they made that will be walking alone, in the situation where everything is new.
The figure of 0.5 new infections per 100,000 people in the last week was still released.
Moreover, even if they release the figure, the government will say that it is too severe.
I can’t help but think about the hard work of the experts.
Japanese version is here
