◆ “XBB line” exceeds 50% for the first time in Tokyo
According to a summary by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the number of new infections nationwide for the week (8-14) was regarding 57,000, a 1.07-fold increase from the previous week, marking the third straight week of increase. 32 prefectures increased from the previous week. However, the number of infected people continues to fall below the level before the seventh wave of the epidemic spread last summer. The total number of people in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba totaled regarding 17,000, an increase for the third straight week, just like the rest of Japan. Compared to the previous week, it was 1.13 times.
The weekly average number of new infections in Tokyo stood at 1,105 as of March 12, surpassing 1,000 for the first time in seven weeks. An expert who analyzes the state of infection in Tokyo said, “The infection has started to spread once more.” According to the latest analysis of mutant strains (March 21-27), the “XBB strain” derived from the Omicron strain, which is said to have a stronger ability to bypass immunity, exceeded 50% for the first time at 51.5%. (Tomoyasu Sakakibara)
Pfizer’s vaccine for Omicron strain Application for change in approved content
On the 11th, Pfizer, a major US pharmaceutical company, applied to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for a partial change in the content of the approval for the Omicron strain vaccine, adding it to children aged 6 months to 4 years old and allowing it to be given from the first vaccination to all generations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a press conference on the 14th that the drug will be approved if its efficacy and safety are confirmed in the examination. The vaccine is currently approved for use only as a booster for children aged 5 years and older. (Tetsuto Yamaguchi)
◆ Corporate bankruptcies increased for the first time in three years
Tokyo Shoko Research announced on the 10th that the number of corporate bankruptcies (debts of 10 million yen or more) nationwide in fiscal 2010 was 6,880, up 15.0% from the previous year, the first increase in three years. In the previous fiscal year, it was the lowest level in 57 years due to the government’s cash flow support to deal with the corona crisis, but gradually the loan repayment period came and high prices added to the problem. Covid-19 bankruptcies rose 46.4% to 2,602. (Toshi Yamaguchi)
