Japan expands simplified coronavirus infection reporting system nationwide

Japan on Monday expands a simplified system for reporting coronavirus cases to cover medical institutions across the country in order to reduce their burden.

The conventional reporting system required the facilities to enter the records of all infected people they have identified into a state-run computer network.

But under the simplified system, they only need to report the details of patients at high risk of becoming seriously ill, such as people aged 65 or above, individuals who need to be hospitalized, and pregnant women.

As for virus carriers outside the category, medical institutions only need to report their total numbers and age groups they belong to.

Earlier this month, the central government allowed prefectural authorities to decide whether to introduce the system. Nine prefectures adopted it, reportedly leading to reduced burden on healthcare staff.

But doctors and other experts point to the need to prepare networks so that mildly ill patients can see doctors quickly if their conditions worsen.

The central government is calling on prefectural authorities to make such arrangements and to ask patients to self-isolate for certain periods.