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 disclosed that the total number of deaths amounted to 32,576. This figure stands at approximately 15 times that of seasonal influenza, with the elderly predominantly affected. The high transmissibility and not significantly diminished pathogenicity of the virus have been identified as contributing factors, with the majority of fatalities occurring among those aged 65 and over.
Although the government has downgraded COVID-19's classification due to a reduced risk of severe illness, many individuals still feel at risk. Infectious disease experts have underscored that, within Japan's aging society, it is imperative for individuals to consider personal protective measures.
In particular, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions are advised to exercise continued vigilance. The importance of vaccination and maintaining proper hygiene practices continues to be emphasised to reduce the risk of infection. As the situation develops, public health officials are closely observing the impact and advising on necessary precautions.
Japanese (日本語)
COVID-19再分類後も高齢者中心に死亡者増加：専門家が防護策の重要性を強調
2023年5月から2024年4月までの間、感染症法に基づきCOVID-19が5類に再分類された後、厚生労働省の人口動態統計によると、死亡者総数は32,576人に達しました。この数字は季節性インフルエンザの約15倍であり、主に高齢者に影響を与えています。ウイルスの高い感染力と病原性が大幅に低下していないことがその理由として挙げられ、死亡者の大多数は65歳以上の人々の間で発生しています。
政府は重症化リスクの低下を理由にCOVID-19の分類を引き下げましたが、多くの人々は依然として脅威を感じています。感染症の専門家は、日本の高齢化社会において、個人が自らの防護策を考慮する必要があると強調しています。
Sentence Quiz (文章問題)
Ought we not to bolster the measures in place for the elderly?
高齢者への対策をもっと強化すべきでは？
I am rather concerned about whether it's appropriate to designate it as a Category 5, particularly given that it poses a greater threat 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 mustn’t become complacent. I intend to keep wearing masks and washing my hands diligently.
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 the younger generation is in good health, we must remain vigilant and not overlook the need for caution for the benefit of our elders.
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)
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| Japanese | Hiragana | English (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | flu |
| 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 | emphasised |
| 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 |
*This article has been translated by AI. For more accurate information, please click here to view the original. (The original text is in American English and Japanese.) If there are any errors, please edit below.
Created by Hiroto T. Murakami.