Increase in deaths among the elderly after COVID-19 reclassification: Experts emphasize the importance of protective measures

October 26, 2024

Between May 2023 and April 2024, following the reclassification of COVID-19 to Category 5 under the Infectious Diseases Control Law, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's vital statistics revealed that the total number of deaths reached 32,576. This figure is about 15 times higher than that of seasonal influenza, primarily impacting the elderly. The high transmissibility and not significantly reduced pathogenicity of the virus are cited as reasons for this, with the majority of fatalities occurring among those aged 65 and over.

Although the government downgraded COVID-19's classification due to a decreased risk of severe illness, many people still feel threatened. Infectious disease experts have emphasized that in Japan's aging society, individuals need to consider their own protective measures.

In particular, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are advised to remain vigilant. The importance of vaccination and maintaining good hygiene practices continues to be stressed to mitigate the risk of infection. As the situation evolves, public health officials are closely monitoring the impact and advising on necessary precautions.

Japanese (日本語)

COVID-19再さい分類ぶんるい後ごも高齢者こうれいしゃ中心ちゅうしんに死亡者しぼうしゃ増加ぞうか：専門家せんもんかが防護策ぼうごさくの重要性じゅうようせいを強調きょうちょう

2023年ねん5月がつから2024年ねん4月がつまでの間あいだ、感染症法かんせんしょうほうに基もとづきCOVID-19が5類るいに再分類さいぶんるいされた後あと、厚生労働省こうせいろうどうしょうの人口動態統計じんこうどうたいとうけいによると、死亡者総数しぼうしゃそうすうは32,576人にんに達たっしました。この数字すうじは季節性きせつせいインフルエンザの約やく15倍ばいであり、主おもに高齢者こうれいしゃに影響えいきょうを与あたえています。ウイルスの高たかい感染力かんせんりょくと病原性びょうげんせいが大幅おおはばに低下ていかしていないことがその理由りゆうとして挙あげられ、死亡者しぼうしゃの大多数だいたすうは65歳以上さいいじょうの人々ひとびとの間あいだで発生はっせいしています。

政府せいふは重症化じゅうしょうかリスクの低下ていかを理由りゆうにCOVID-19の分類ぶんるいを引ひき下さげましたが、多おおくの人々は依然いぜんとして脅威きょういを感かんじています。感染症かんせんしょうの専門家せんもんかは、日本にほんの高齢化社会こうれいかしゃかいにおいて、個人こじんが自みずからの防護策ぼうごさくを考慮こうりょする必要ひつようがあると強調きょうちょうしています。

Sentence Quiz (文章問題)

Shouldn't we strengthen measures for the elderly more?

高齢者への対策をもっと強化すべきでは？

I'm worried if it's okay to classify it as Category 5, even though it's more dangerous than the flu.

インフルエンザよりも危険なのに、5類で大丈夫なのか心配。

It's still a situation where we can't let our guard down. I want to continue wearing masks and washing hands.

まだまだ油断できない状況ですね。マスクや手洗いは続けたい。

Even if young people are okay, we must not neglect to be careful for the sake of the elderly.

若者は大丈夫でも、高齢者のために注意を怠らないようにしないと。

Related Words (関連ワード)

Toggle Button

Japanese	Hiragana	English
再分類	さいぶんるい	reclassification
伝達性	でんたつせい	transmissibility
病原性	びょうげんせい	pathogenicity
死亡者	しぼうしゃ	fatalities
格下げされた	かくさげされた	downgraded
分類	ぶんるい	classification
統計	とうけい	statistics
インフルエンザ	いんふるえんざ	influenza
主に	おもに	primarily
影響を与える	えいきょうをあたえる	impacting
強調された	きょうちょうされた	emphasized
保護的	ほごてき	protective
明らかにした	あきらかにした	revealed
減少した	げんしょうした	decreased
著しく	いちじるしく	significantly
個人	こじん	individuals
対策	たいさく	measures
発生している	はっせいしている	occurring
次の	つぎの	following
考慮する	こうりょする	consider

John and Kasumi's Discussions

John

"Hey Kasumi, did you see the news? The number of COVID deaths in Japan last year was over 32,000. That's 15 times more than the flu! Can you believe that?"

「えー、そんなに？インフルの15倍も？そんなに多いなんて、ちょっとびっくりだね。」

Kasumi

John

"Right? And 97% of those were people over 65. It's really alarming. I mean, I get that the government downgraded COVID to flu-level, but still..."

「それは確かに心配だね。でも、5類に移行してからみんな普通の生活に戻りたかったから、政府もある意味仕方なかったのかも。」

Kasumi

John

"True, everyone wants to go back to normal. But it feels like people forgot that COVID hasn't exactly disappeared. The virus keeps evolving like some villain from a video game!"

「ははっ、確かにゲームのラスボスみたいだね。何回倒しても新しい形で復活する感じ。」

Kasumi

John

"Exactly! It’s like, 'Defeated Delta? Here comes Omicron!' And now it’s just lurking around like a sneaky ninja."

「ふふふ、忍者ウイルスかあ。それで言うと、日本は年寄りが多いから、この“忍者”が特に厄介なんだよね。」

Kasumi

John

"Yeah, Professor Oshitani even said we need to start thinking about how to protect the elderly better. I mean, it's not just about staying safe ourselves, right?"

「そうそう。高齢化社会だから、みんなでどうやって守るか考えないと。でも、若い人たちがマスクや手洗いを続けるのも、もう疲れちゃったんだろうね。」

Kasumi

John

"Yeah, I get that. Mask fatigue is real. But it's still wild that people are just... done with it, like, 'Oh well, COVID’s over now.' It’s not over, it’s just playing hard to get!"

「“またいつでも来るよ”ってウイルスが言ってるみたいだね。油断したらすぐに襲われる感じ。」

Kasumi

John

"Exactly! Like some bad ex who keeps showing up when you least expect it."

「あはは！コロナは“別れたと思ったのに！”って叫ぶ元カレかもね。」

Kasumi

John

"Haha, right? Except this ex is 15 times worse than the flu. Now that’s a toxic relationship!"

「うわぁ、それは本当に付き合いたくない相手だね。でも、こういう状況だからこそ、みんなで協力するしかないんだろうね。」

Kasumi

John

"Yeah, I just hope people won't wait for another winter spike to realize it. Prevention is better than playing catch-up."

「うん、それが大事だね。インフルとコロナ、どっちも忍者だと思って油断しないようにしなきゃ。」

Kasumi

John

"Exactly! Let’s treat both like stealthy ninjas and stay prepared. Maybe we need to start carrying... I don't know, ninja masks?"

「それ、普通のマスクのことだよね？もう持ってるし！」

Kasumi

John

"Haha, fair point! You’re already ahead of the game, Kasumi. Maybe I should start calling you the ninja master."

「ふふ、じゃあジョンも“見習い忍者”で頑張ってね！」

Kasumi

Created by Hiroto T. Murakami.

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