The January 23 Record: The WHO Emergency Committee Deferred Its Decision
On January 23, 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a notice on pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. At that point, China had reported 571 cases and 17 deaths, while the WHO Emergency Committee deferred its decision on whether the outbreak constituted a PHEIC. Even then, the world had already entered a grave stage.
May 10, 2020
From the 22nd to the 23rd, Japan time, the WHO Emergency Committee was held…and when it discussed whether the situation constituted a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),” it determined that more information was necessary.
The following is an ordinance issued by the Ministry of Health on January 23.
To members of the press:
Regarding pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China (January 23, 2020 edition)
We hereby announce the situation as of January 23 and the response of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
(Based on information announced by Wuhan City, the WHO, and others by noon on January 23, the underlined portions have been updated from the January 22 report.)
Regarding cases of infection with the novel coronavirus, one case has been reported in Japan (https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_08906.html).
In addition, in Japan, through active epidemiological investigation, 18 persons are currently under health observation.
No new infections have been confirmed so far.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will continue to gather information.
- Situation of outbreaks abroad
・Based on official announcements by governments of foreign countries and regions, as of 12:00 on January 23, the number of cases and deaths diagnosed outside Japan as pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus is as follows.
・China: 571 cases, 17 deaths.
・Thailand: 4 cases, 0 deaths.
・South Korea: 1 case, 0 deaths.
・Taiwan: 1 case, 0 deaths.
・United States: 1 case, 0 deaths. - Situation of outbreaks in Japan
・As of January 23, one confirmed case has been identified.
The infected person has already recovered.
It has also been confirmed that the infected person wore a mask when going out.
・Investigation is underway into the infected person’s travel and activity history, and all close contacts have been identified and placed under health observation.
At present, no infections have been confirmed among all 15 persons subject to health observation as close contacts of the infected person.
・In addition, three persons have been identified as contacts of cases that occurred overseas, and they are scheduled to leave Japan on the 25th. - Measures taken so far by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
[Quarantine-related matters]
・Updating posters at airport and other quarantine booths calling on returnees and entrants from Wuhan City to self-report
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000585391.pdf
・Continuing the current quarantine system for returnees, under which entrants into Japan are checked for fever and other symptoms using thermography and other methods, and additionally confirming the health status of entrants from Wuhan City
・Requesting airlines to cooperate by making in-flight announcements calling on returnees and entrants from Wuhan City to self-report
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000586401.pdf
[Response by medical institutions, public health centers, and others]
・The National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine updated information on responses at medical institutions and measures against hospital-acquired infection, expanding the scope of persons for whom operation of suspected-case surveillance is being considered to include those diagnosed with pneumonia by imaging tests and others who have a travel history to Wuhan City
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/diseases/ka/corona-virus/2019-ncov/2484-idsc/9310-2019-ncov-1.html
・The National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine formulated a draft policy on the discharge and post-discharge follow-up observation of patients with pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/images/epi/corona/200122-1.pdf
・Continuing health observation of close contacts of the infected person confirmed in Japan
・Based on the fact that genetic sequence information on the virus was released by China, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases established a testing method.
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/images/pathol/pdf/Detection_of_nCoV_report200121.pdf
・The National Institute of Infectious Diseases prepared provisional guidelines for active epidemiological investigation of pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/images/epi/corona/nCoV_200121-1.pdf
・Requesting local governments and related organizations to properly operate the testing system at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, namely suspected-case surveillance, for patients with pneumonia and other illnesses of unknown cause
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10900000/000582709.pdf
・The National Institute of Infectious Diseases prepared a manual for specimen collection and transport for patients suspected of novel coronavirus infection, for local governments and related organizations
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/images/pathol/pdf/2019-nCoV_200122.pdf
[Information dissemination]
・Issuing travel alerts on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Quarantine Station website “FORTH”
https://www.forth.go.jp/topics/202001211450.html
・Disseminating timely information through the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Twitter account and other channels - Future measures
(1) Border measures
Requesting each airline to expand the distribution of health cards and the implementation of in-flight announcements on all flights from China
(2) Medical system
If the outbreak spreads beyond Wuhan City, China, then when visitors to Japan and returnees from the affected regions develop fever or other symptoms after entering Japan, medical institutions will conduct detailed interviews on their travel and activity history and, in cooperation with public health centers, reliably implement suspected-case surveillance, a system for identifying patients with pneumonia of unknown cause and other cases and connecting them to testing
(3) Domestic surveillance
・Preparing a system so that tests currently conducted by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases can also be conducted at local public health institutes throughout the country
・Issuing alerts concerning patient care for close contacts requiring particular attention, such as medical workers
(4) Information provision
・Informing accommodation facilities how to respond when foreign visitors to Japan have symptoms such as fever and cough
・Issuing Q&A on pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus and providing information widely to the public - Regarding the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee
・From the 22nd to the 23rd, Japan time, the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Committee was held, and when it discussed whether pneumonia associated with the novel coronavirus constituted a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),”* it determined that more information was necessary, and the risk assessment concerning the novel coronavirus was therefore continued for further deliberation.
The Emergency Committee is scheduled to be held again tonight, Japan time, and discussions will continue.
・If any decision is made by the Emergency Committee, a press release will be issued promptly.
*Reference: What is a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)”?
A “Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)” is, under the International Health Regulations (IHR), a situation such as the following:
(1) A situation recognized as posing a public health risk to other countries through the international spread of disease
(2) A situation requiring urgent coordination of international countermeasures
・The WHO Director-General, after consulting with the country where the event is occurring and taking into account the advice of the Emergency Committee and other factors, determines whether the event constitutes a PHEIC and issues recommendations on health measures.
・Recommendations may include health measures to be implemented by the country where the emergency is occurring or by other countries, concerning persons, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, and/or postal parcels, in order to prevent or reduce the international spread of disease and avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic, such as entry and exit restrictions, health monitoring, quarantine, isolation, and other measures.
However, they are not legally binding, and there are no provisions or penalties for failing to follow the recommendations.
We will continue to monitor the situation in China and elsewhere, as well as the results of the WHO Emergency Committee, and will work closely with all relevant organizations to provide information swiftly and accurately.
We ask the public not to be excessively worried, but to continue taking ordinary infectious disease prevention measures, such as wearing masks and thoroughly washing hands.