オミクロン株陽性者の全員入院見直し　自治体判断で自宅療養に―岸田首相年頭会見

　岸田文雄首相は４日、三重県伊勢市の伊勢神宮を参拝後、年頭記者会見に臨んだ。新型コロナウイルスの変異株「オミクロン株」に関し、これまでの水際対策の骨格を維持しつつ、国内対策に重点を移すと表明。陽性者を全員入院させていた措置を見直し、自宅療養を積極的に活用する考えを示した。
　政府はオミクロン株対応で、感染者は全員入院させ、濃厚接触者はホテルなどでの健康観察を要請しているが、専門家からは施設の逼迫（ひっぱく）を招くとして柔軟な対応を求める声が出ていた。首相は「自治体の判断で、症状に応じて宿泊、自宅療養を活用し、医療の逼迫を招かないようにする」と語った。
　首相は「国内の予防、検査、早期治療を一層強化する」と述べ、ＰＣＲ検査などの無料検査拡大や３回目ワクチン接種の前倒しを進めると強調。米ファイザー社の経口治療薬について２月中のできるだけ早い時期に実用化を目指す考えも明らかにした。（2022/01/04-17:39）

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday the government will start shifting the focus of its fight against the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus to domestic measures while maintaining the basic framework of existing border controls.
   "In particular, we must carefully work on COVID-19 measures," Kishida said at his New Year's press conference, held in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after visiting Ise Jingu, a major Shinto shrine, in the city earlier in the day.
   The government will review its current system in which all people infected with the omicron variant are hospitalized and all omicron close contacts are asked to stay at designated lodging facilities, he said, stressing the importance of preventing a shortage of hospital beds by having such people stay at their homes and other places according to the severity of their symptoms.
   In the event that a bed shortage is expected, "we will have to flexibly consider strengthening restrictions on people's movement," Kishida said.
   On the handling of the government's existing rule of banning the entry of foreigners in principle, Kishida said that he will make a decision on Jan. 11, following a three-day weekend, or later after watching the infection situation during the year-end and New Year's holiday period.