濃厚接触待機、最短３日に　感染阻止・経済維持の両立図る―政府調整

　政府は、新型コロナウイルス感染者の濃厚接触者に求める待機期間について、原則７日間から５日間に短縮する調整に入った。さらに２日連続の検査で陰性が確認されれば、接触の翌日から数えて最短３日目に待機を免除する方向だ。政府関係者が２２日、明らかにした。
　岸田文雄首相と後藤茂之厚生労働相ら関係閣僚が同日にも協議。方針が決まれば直ちに発表する。
　国内では、１日当たりの新規感染者数が１８万人を超え、過去最多を更新。子どもが感染して親が出勤できなくなるケースも相次いでいる。待機期間を短くすることで、感染拡大阻止と社会経済活動維持の両立を図る狙いだ。（2022/07/22-10:08）

The Japanese government is considering shortening the quarantine period for those who had close contact with people infected with the novel coronavirus to as short as three days, it was learned Friday.
   The quarantine period is slated to be shortened to five days in principle from seven days at present, government sources said. The government plans to exempt people from quarantining on the third day after coming in close contact if they test negative for the coronavirus for two consecutive days.
   Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, health minister Shigeyuki Goto and other ministers are set to discuss the move the same day, and an announcement will be made as soon as a policy is decided, according to the sources.
   The daily infection tally in Japan topped 180,000 cases to log a record high Thursday. There have been cases in which parents of infected children became unable to go to work.
   By shortening the quarantine period, the government hopes to balance infection prevention with maintaining social and economic activity, the sources said.