Japan's focus shifts to bolstering medical services

Naha City Hospital in Okinawa Prefecture, where bed occupancy rates are on the rise (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

The rapid spread of the omicron variant has prompted a change of course by the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Conscious of the fact that a deterioration in the pandemic situation would be a major blow to his administration, Kishida announced measures Tuesday that shifted the focus from containment to expanding at-home care services to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.