February 4th – Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare said on the 3rd that there have been 16 cases of COVID-19 patients in Japan so far who escaped from medical institutions after hospitalization.
On the same day, the amendment to the Infectious Diseases Act was voted on in the Senate session, specifying that those who refuse to be hospitalized and refuse to accept the investigation of post-hospital behavior will be punished.
According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun on the 4th, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had previously investigated 155 autonomous regions in Japan, and as of January 29, 137 autonomous regions had given answers.
In addition to 16 cases of COVID-19 patients fleeing from hospitals, 77 cases of hospitalization advice (including those who were persuaded to be hospitalized) immediately followed, and 107 cases of failure to cooperate with medical institutions’ epidemic investigation.
The amended Infectious Diseases Law stipulates that those who refuse to be admitted to hospital or leave the hospital without authorization will be fined not more than 500,000 yen (about $50k), and those who refuse to cooperate with the investigation of the health department will be fined less than 300,000 yen (about $30k).
he amended law will be officially implemented on February 13.
