Beds and ventilators are running low, with doctors warning of a “system collapse” due to the acceleration of COVID-19 case numbers in the prefecture.
- Osaka Prefecture has 9 million people
- 3,849 new positive tests in the week to Thursday (May 20)
- By Thursday, 96% of the 348 hospital beds Osaka reserves for serious virus cases were in use
Says the Japan Times:
- 14% of the prefecture’s 13,770 COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized, leaving the majority to fend for themselves.
- Tokyo’s latest hospitalization rate, in comparison, is 37%.
- A government advisory panel sees rates of less than 25% as a trigger to consider imposition of a state of emergency.
Based on these sorts of numbers it appears likely an extension of the Osaka State of Emergency is likely.
