「若年層、受診せず自宅療養」　基礎疾患ない人ら想定―医療逼迫回避、専門家提言

　政府に新型コロナウイルス対策を助言する専門家の有志は２１日、オミクロン株の感染がさらに急拡大した場合、基礎疾患のない若年層は「必ずしも医療機関を受診せず、自宅療養を可能とすることもあり得る」とした提言を政府に提出した。医療提供体制の逼迫（ひっぱく）を回避し、重症化しやすい高齢者らがスムーズに治療を受けられるようにするのが狙いだ。
　専門家有志はオミクロン株について、感染力の強さから「これまでの新型コロナとは異なる感染症と考えるべきだ」と分析。早ければ２週間前後で感染のピークが訪れる恐れがある上、感染が疑われる全員が検査・診療のために医療機関にかかれば、「地域の医療提供体制のキャパシティー（収容能力）を超えてしまう」と危機感を示した。（2022/01/21-20:21）

A group of experts who advise the Japanese government on COVID-19 response will soon propose skipping tests on young people if the omicron variant spreads further in the country, people familiar with the matter said Friday.
   Young people who may have been infected with the coronavirus should be diagnosed based solely on their clinical symptoms, without getting COVID-19 tests, according to the group's proposal.
   The experts' group drew up the proposal in a move to prevent Japan's medical system and COVID-19 testing capacity from being strained. The proposal was presented at a health ministry meeting on Thursday, the people said.
   The omicron variant has been found to be far more transmissible and at the same time cause less severe illness than the delta variant.
   Many young people without underlying conditions have developed only mild symptoms, if any, after being infected with the omicron variant, and they are recovering without being admitted to hospital.