Japan to house COVID-19 patients in hotels as hospitals feel strain

The request has been made owing to an escalation in cases in Tokyo as well as other urban areas, with the Tokyo metropolitan government along with healthcare specialists saying the number of hospital beds available for coronavirus patients will soon reach capacity.

A panel of government experts also warned this week the country's entire healthcare system could collapse if the cases continue to spike.

The healthcare system in Tokyo and four other prefectures is under increased strain and "drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible," the experts concluded.

Moving patients with less severe symptoms to hotels or back to their homes would free up vital hospital beds for patients with more severe and potentially fatal symptoms, the health ministry said.

In an addition, the health ministry has relaxed its conditions for the discharge of COVID-19 patients.

Infected patients will be allowed to be discharged from hospital after two days provided they test negative twice for the pneumonia-causing virus.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has already begun talks with hotels, with the bill to be footed by the government's soon-to-be-announced extra budget.

"We are promptly securing places for recuperation at this moment. We want to create an environment for the people to feel safe," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told a press briefing on the matter.