The number of pregnant women infected with the novel coronavirus has surged amid the spread of the omicron variant.
According to preliminary data compiled by the Tokyo metropolitan government, 261 expectant women contracted the virus from Jan. 1 to Jan. 20, marking an about 50-fold increase on the previous month. At some hospitals, beds reserved for infected pregnant women have been fully occupied. This raises the possibility of no hospital beds being available for those recuperating at home who experience a sudden deterioration in condition.
Only a limited number of medical institutions accept infected pregnant women due to difficulties associated with providing pregnancy and childbirth care in addition to treatment for COVID-19. In August, a pregnant woman infected with the virus was unable to secure a hospital bed and gave birth prematurely at home in Chiba Prefecture. The newborn child died. This incident prompted hospitals to provide more beds for infected pregnant women.
