English abstract
Let's Take the first step in a new standard Navigation to ride the global tide
Vaccines are controlling the damage incurred by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. The global economy is beginning to steer toward job expansion and economic recovery. However, inflation remains a concern for the US and China.
Opinions expressed at the Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting in Japan have begun to diverge. Despite concerns revolving around the Tokyo Olympics, the meeting lacks recommendations on high school baseball, which is held at the same time and with as much number of participants. Moreover, no concern was expressed for soccer, baseball games, martial arts competitions, or concerts where a large number of people may gather.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Japan is converging, as the country reports smaller number of cases compared with those reported worldwide. In Japan, the mortality rate due to COVID-19 is 0.3% and the number of deaths under the age of 19 was zero. The number of positive cases according to age and number of deaths are inversely correlated (Fig).
Thus, medical researchers are paying attention to the relationship between the severity of COVID-19 and chronic inflammation. Previous studies reported that the elderly who experience inflammation (age-related inflammation; "inflammaging") suffer more damage in contrast to younger people. This tendency is remarkable in Japan.
Therefore, Japan's strategy for vaccination is to begin with the elderly. Notably, the mRNA vaccine is effective for mutant types of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with an efficacy rate reported to reach 90%. Inoculation for medical personnel is nearly complete, whereas inoculation for the elderly is nearing completion. Therefore, the countermeasures for preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Japan have been completed.
The world is shifting from PCR testing, which tends to produce many false positive results, is economic burden and is time-intensive, to simple antigen testing. In addition, masks are becoming unnecessary.
The Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting in Japan pertains to a system whose main objective is to spread caution and force people to withdraw from or eliminate interaction. However, I argue that the era of controlling people with fear to enlarge monetary quantitative easement is over. Therefore, I propose that the expert meeting, which was conducted only for the purpose of spreading fear, has consummated its role and that Japan should replace its infection control team and cooperate with other countries to contribute to economic recovery.
I guess the Tokyo Olympics will be a good experience for the whole world.
1. In Japan, COVID-19 is aggravated in and concentrated on the elderly with minimal damage caused to young children. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 is predicted to exacerbate chronic inflammation (inflammaging).
2. Japan is successful in securing vaccines, and the vaccination drive for the elderly is near completion. As the inoculation of the elderly is ending, Japan's measures against COVID-19 are nearly complete.
3. Therefore, young people with little to no vulnerability to the disease may be free to opt for vaccination.
4. An urgent need emerges to shift from PCR testing to simple testing to improve burden costs and time efficiency. Masks are also unnecessary especially outdoors.
5. The cycle of international anxiety and fiscal mobilization is over. In the near future, the economy will re-emerge with employment expansion.
6. Japanese experts are uninterested in the economy and are aiming for zero cases of COVID-19. Disbanding the one-handed infection control team in Japan and forming a new team to gain an integrated understanding of global trends are necessary steps in the future.
7. I guess the Tokyo Olympics in from July to August 2021 will be a good experience for the whole world, as well as exciting Wimbledon match full of spectator in June.
参考資料
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