濃厚接触者待機、７日に短縮へ　厚労省、感染急拡大受け検討―新型コロナ

　新型コロナウイルス感染者の濃厚接触者の待機期間について、厚生労働省が現行の１０日間から７日間に短縮する方向で検討していることが２７日、関係者への取材で分かった。オミクロン株の感染急拡大により濃厚接触者が急増し、社会活動の低下が深刻化しつつある状況を踏まえた。
　待機期間をめぐっては、厚労省が１４日、それまでの１４日間から１０日間に短縮すると発表。オミクロン株の潜伏期間が約３日間と従来株より短く、「１０日を超えることは極めてまれ」であることを根拠としていた。
　国内の１日当たりの新規感染者は１４日以降、３倍以上に増加し、濃厚接触者も急増している。岸田文雄首相は２５日の衆院予算委員会で、「短縮の方向で検討する。一定のリスクは伴う中で、どこまでが適切なのか判断したい」と表明していた。（2022/01/27-23:19）

Japan's health ministry is considering shortening the quarantine period for those who had close contact with people infected with the novel coronavirus to seven days from 10 days at present, it has been learned.
   The move comes in response to a decline in social activities in Japan that has been accelerating due to a surge in the number of close contacts amid the rapid spread of the omicron coronavirus variant in the country.
   On Jan. 14, the ministry said that it will cut the quarantine period to 10 days from 14 days. The decision was made as the omicron variant's incubation period is around three days, which is shorter than other coronavirus strains. The ministry had said that it was extremely rare for the incubation period to exceed 10 days.
   Daily COVID-19 infection cases in Japan has tripled since Jan. 14 and the number of close contacts has also been growing rapidly.
   Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan's parliament, on Tuesday that the country is considering shortening the quarantine period.