Two new coronavirus cases confirmed on Iriomote Island, including one town employee, and insufficient healthcare on the island has its residents scared
Iriomote Island (File photo)
August 7, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo
Taketomi – The Okinawa Prefectural Office in Yaeyama and the Yaeyama Health Department have disclosed two new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Iriomote Island in Yaeyama, a boy in his teens and a man in his fifties. The two new cases were not included in the report released by the prefecture on August 6. That same evening Yaeyama announced that the man in his fifties worked at the town government office on the island. There are now a total of three confirmed cases on Iriomote Island.
The two are related to another teenage boy from western Iriomote who as confirmed to have the disease on August 4. On August 5 they started showing symptoms like fever, and after being taken to Yaeyama Hospital on a Japanese Cost Guard ship, were confirmed to have the virus after taking an antigen test. Neither of the cases are being considered serious at this time.
Okinawa Prefecture has asked those who have been infected as well as those who have come in close contact with someone who has been infected quarantine at home, and have asked everyone in Okinawa to refrain from going out except for necessities. The health department has indicated that they will test people believed to have come in contact with the people who have contracted the virus over a wide area based on a tracing survey.
As the island does not have much in the way of healthcare services, there is rising concern that the disease will spread. There are also those who are concerned that this will effect tourism, which was starting to rebound.
Naoyuki Uekame, 64. who operates a hotel in western Iriomote, said, “Because the case was someone who lives here, and not a tourist, I’m worried that it could have spread to a variety of places. Even going to the supermarket has become scary.” There are only two healthcare facilities on the island, one in the eastern part, and one in the west. “There are a lot of elderly people on the island. We can only pray that it doesn’t spread.”
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
Previous Article:Fifteen Shisa statues at Ginowan City Hall wear masks in spite of the blazing sun
Next Article:Medical association asks Okinawans residing outside the prefecture to exercise “patience” this summer
[Similar Articles]
- Okinawan coronavirus strain that was prevalent in mid-July determined to be genetically similar to strain in Tokyo, but Okinawa Prefecture says the analysis “Does not provide a complete picture”
- With Miyakojima becoming one of the world’s worst hot zones of the coronavirus, mayor pleads with people “do not come here”
- PCR testing in Naha meant to be limited to Matsuyama ends one hour early after an unexpected number of people arrived, causing long lines and traffic congestion
- U.S. military reports 34 new COVID-19 cases in Okinawa, bringing total count to 99; cluster outbreak among Marines, one case on Kadena
- OPG speculates Delta variant causing rise in infections among US military-associated persons
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
