COVID-19 still kills over 30,000 a year in Japan; old people at risk | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis (original) (raw)

Annual deaths from COVID-19 continue to top 30,000 in Japan, even three years since the seriousness of the infectious disease was downgraded to the level of seasonal influenza.

Elderly people are most at risk of the novel coronavirus, which has continued to mutate.

In both 2023 and 2024, COVID-19 was eighth leading cause of death in Japan.

According to health ministry statistics, 36,000 people died from COVID-19 in 2024, with people 65 and over accounting for more than 90 percent of the fatalities.

The total was down by around 2,000 from 38,000 in 2023.

May 8 marked the third anniversary of the health ministry’s move to downgraded COVID-19 to Category 5 on the severity scale under the infectious disease prevention law.

Large-scale COVID-19 outbreaks are more likely to occur during the summer and winter. However, the 2025-2026 winter season saw fewer infections than before.

Several possible factors for the decline include the widespread use of flu masks and handwashing.

In addition, a large-scale influenza outbreak occurred at the time, and the presence of one dominant virus can help suppress others.

The Omicron strain that first emerged in November 2021 continues to be the dominant strain since becoming common in Japan at the beginning of 2022.

In December, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the BA.3.2 variant of the Omicron strain as a monitoring target.

“The latest variant is a descendant of the BA.3 strain that briefly appeared in the first half of 2022, and reports of it are currently growing worldwide,” said Atsuo Hamada, a visiting professor of infectious diseases at Tokyo Medical University Hospital’s Travel Clinic.

Indications of a BA.3 outbreak overseas have manifested following a three-year hiatus. Therefore, BA.3.2, which is believed to have enhanced abilities to evade immune functions, is likened to a cicada species that spends a long time underground as a larva and then emerges from its pupa above ground.

No significant increase has been confirmed of patients developing more severe symptoms from BA.3.2 than from its earlier counterparts.

Data from the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) showed the first confirmed BA.3.2 case in Japan was reported in January this year.

As of March, the strain had been discovered in 13 of 87 samples taken from patients nationwide.

Hamada urged people to remain calm before periodic vaccinations begin in autumn.

“There is no need to be overly anxious at this point,” Hamada said. “The situation should, however, be closely monitored, taking into account the likelihood that current circumstances may contribute to a sharp spread of the virus this summer.”

BE VIGILANT

Tomoya Saito, director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response of the JIHS’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said susceptible people should not lower their guard.

His warning came as some people now regard COVID-19 as little more than a common cold.

“Elderly people and those with underlying health problems, such as immunodeficiency, diabetes and kidney disorders, are more likely to develop severe symptoms from COVID-19,” Saito said.

He urged not only people who are prone to suffering serious conditions but also those who frequently come into contact with such patients to take special precautions in the event of an outbreak.

“Anti-infection measures should be taken with the detailed situation in mind, including wearing flu masks, washing hands properly, and refraining from venturing out when feeling unwell,” Saito said.

(This article was written by Kota Takeda, senior staff writer, and Eriko Chiba.)