France, Italy and many regions across the United States have issued blockades. The roads were deserted, many stalls closed, fear dominated. These countries are experiencing a cruel spring because of Covid-19.

But in Japan is a completely different picture. As the weather warms up, people can enjoy wine under the blooming cherry tree, some restaurants offer a 30% discount with the slogan "beat SARS-CoV-2 virus", even Many amusement parks are reopening. As of March 26, Japan recorded 1,307 cases of Covid-19 and 45 deaths, according to Worldometers. Mortality rates in this country are relatively low.

So what makes the country "sunrise" successfully control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus? The answer is not simple because there are many factors that work together.

Cultural elements

Japanese people are famous for their habit of loving cleanliness. Wearing masks for health protection and sometimes for cosmetic-related reasons has been a part of Japanese culture for at least 100 years. Japan is not a country that has a habit of showing affection between people with cuddling and intimate actions like France and Italy. "Social spacing" is a part of Japanese culture. Barbara Holthus, deputy director at the Japan Research Institute in Germany, said the Japanese habit of greeting people is crouching, not kisses on the cheeks or handshakes.

"Kissing in public only started after World War II. The embrace of family members in Japan is much less than in the West and is often not done with older children," Barbara Holthus said. know.

However, this researcher does not think that cultural characteristics and customs are the only factor that helps prevent the spread of disease in Japan.

Only test when needed

Many people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus will have no symptoms or become ill and most of them can recover. However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be fatal for the elderly while Japan is the country with the oldest population in the world. The Japanese government is making efforts to control the situation.

The Japan as‌sociation for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (JSIPC) updated its virus prevention guidelines on March 10. In a calm tone, the agency said: "Japan is transitioning from implementing a virus prevention measure to a phase of preventing spread of infection and we have to adjust it appropriately." As of March 6, testing for SARS-CoV-2 virus in Japan is covered by national insurance. "Because wages are being used for this job, it is necessary to carefully screen those who take tests," JSIPC said.

JSIPC also advises people not to perform tests "unnecessarily" and to ask health professionals to prevent overcrowding in hospitals by instructing patients with mild symptoms to self-isolated at home. or away from others. While South Korea and other countries have set up mobile testing stations called Drive-thru, test and measure the driving temperature, Japan does not follow this model.

JSIPC believes that because there is no specific treatment for Covid-19 disease, the current priority is the treatment of symptoms.

"The basis of treatment is symptomatic treatment," the JSIPC guideline said. When recognizing signs of pneumonia in patients, JSIPC suggests using all possible treatments such as oxygen or vasopressors. Above all, the agency reminds health workers of the top priority of protecting the lives of seriously ill patients, especially pneumonia cases.

Extensive experience in the treatment of pneumonia

Japan is one of the countries with the preeminent healthcare system. Medical services are affordable so most people can see a doctor when they start feeling ill, instead of waiting until the condition gets worse.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in Japan. Remarkably, aspiration pneumonia (aspiration pneumonia) is increasingly common in the elderly. Since 2014, Japan has been vaccinating against the pneumonia vaccine for free but it is not compulsory for people over 65. The number of deaths due to the disease has dropped significantly since 2017.

By 2018, pneumonia was pushed down to the fifth position among the most deadly diseases in Japan. This decline may be due to the Ministry of Health changing the way statistical tables are made, but the use of new drugs, as well as the widespread application of CT (computed tomography) to identify markers. The effectiveness of early stage pneumonia also contributes significantly in reducing the number of deaths.

When it comes to CT scanners, Japan is arguably the country with the most imaging equipment in the world, with 101 out of every 100,000 people. Australia is the second with 44 machines. CT scanners are useful for finding signs of viral pneumonia, such as Covid-19. If the patient goes to the doctor with symptoms of pneumonia or has trouble breathing, then the doctor will most likely not order them to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 virus, instead they will order CT or X-rays.

If a pneumonia patient is found, the doctor will begin treating him or her. And if the patient is cured, they may not need to be tested for SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, a case of Covid-19 can disappear, literally and figuratively.

Unwritten strategy

A Japanese official said: “We only focus on treatment for serious cases and most experts agree on this view. If everyone was encouraged to get tested, health authorities would be flooded with people who didn’t need to go there. This not only reduces the ability to take care of critical situations but also indirectly causes a bigger health crisis. ”

The expert also pointed out that hospitals can be dangerous places. “People and patients are at higher risk of spreading the disease in crowded hospitals and clinics. Moreover, spending on unnecessary tests is a waste of government resources, a waste of time and financial reserves. There is no specific treatment for Covid-19 yet. ”

At a time when many other countries were in a state of blockade, with most economic activities suspended indefinitely, the official drew what could be considered an unspoken Japanese strategy. Copy.

“Most people who recover will recover thanks to their own immune systems. So first we need to take care of people with weak immune systems or our health care system will collapse. ” This seems to have prevented the Japanese medical industry from being overloaded.

It is also suggested that the Japanese pneumonia vaccination program for the elderly, which Japan has implemented since 2014, may act as a "shield" against the Covid-19 epidemic. However this has not been proven.

A Japanese official told the Asia Times that the "do not say, do not ask" strategy based on advising people to conduct tests only when necessary and restricting the spread of negative information, has been applied. quietly. This strategy sounds unreliable. But in fact, it has helped Japan maintain its calm, continue economic activities and help prevent the medical system from being overloaded.