「ＢＡ．５対策強化宣言」新設　外来逼迫で、軽症者は検査活用―政府

　政府は２９日、新型コロナウイルス感染症対策本部を持ち回りで開き、オミクロン株の派生型「ＢＡ．５」の流行を受け、各都道府県が独自に「ＢＡ．５対策強化宣言」を出すことができる仕組みの新設を決めた。対象地域では重症化リスクの高い高齢者らに外出自粛を求め、ワクチンの早期接種を促す。外来診療の負担を軽減するため、無料配布される検査キットの利用も呼び掛ける。（2022/07/29-18:25）

Amid the spread of the BA.5 omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Japanese government decided Friday to create a framework that lets prefectures make declarations for strengthening measures to combat the BA.5 variant, such as urging elderly people to refrain from going out and promoting early vaccinations.
   The framework was approved by the government's coronavirus response headquarters the same day.
   Prefectures will be allowed to make such declarations when there are strains on their medical systems, such as the occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients exceeding 50 pct and most patients having moderate to severe symptoms.
   At a press conference on the day, economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa, who is in charge of the government's novel coronavirus measures, stressed that activity restrictions, such as closure requests for restaurants and bars, are not supposed to be imposed under anti-BA.5 declarations.
   "We will provide support, together with local governments, so that anti-infection measures can be balanced with economic and social activities," Yamagiwa said.