死亡者「さらなる増加懸念」　感染者減少見られず―厚労省助言組織・新型コロナ

　政府が新型コロナウイルス感染拡大防止への協力を呼び掛けた「勝負の３週間」の最終日に当たる１６日、対策を助言する厚生労働省の専門家組織「アドバイザリーボード」の会合が開かれた。医療提供体制の逼迫（ひっぱく）が続く首都圏、関西圏、中部圏では「感染者数の明らかな減少は見られない」と現状を分析し、「今後も重症者の増加はしばらく続く恐れがあり、死亡者数のさらなる増加も懸念される」との見解をまとめた。
　専門家組織によると、全国の１週間ごとの新規感染者数は、「勝負の３週間」前日の１１月２５日から今月１日までは１万５０９７人。その後、２～８日は１万５５２１人、９～１５日は１万８０２４人となり、２週間で約２割増えた。
　全国の入院患者数と確保病床使用率は、１１月２５日時点では７８２６人（２８．９％）だったが、１２月９日には９２２２人（３３．７％）に増加。重症者数は１６日時点で６１８人に上り、３週間前と比べ約１．６倍に増えた。（2020/12/16-21:39）

No clear decrease in coronavirus infections can be seen in the greater Tokyo or other urban areas after the government-declared "crucial" three weeks, experts at a health ministry advisory board said Wednesday.
   The board gave the assessment for the Tokyo, Kansai western and Chubu central regions, where the medical systems are being strained, at a meeting Wednesday, the final day of the three weeks, during which the government called on the public to cooperate in efforts to curb coronavirus infections.
   At the meeting, the experts warned that the number of infected people with severe symptoms may continue to rise for the time being. They also expressed concern about a possible further increase in coronavirus deaths.
   Japan had 15,097 new infection cases between Nov. 25, the day before the three weeks began, and Dec. 1. The number increased to 15,521 the following week and to 18,024 the week after that.
   As of Nov. 25, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients stood at 7,826, and the occupancy rate for hospital beds available for such patients at 28.9 pct. The figures as of Dec. 9 were 9,222 and 33.7 pct.