All national dailies wrote that Prime Minister Suga held talks with Japan Medical Association chief Nakagawa on Tuesday to explain the GOJ’s decision on Monday to ask COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms to recuperate at home instead of being admitted to hospitals to prevent hospital beds from running out as new COVID-19 cases surge. The premier reportedly asked for support from medical professionals in ensuring that seriously ill patients and those who need breathing support or have underlying conditions will be admitted to hospitals and other patients will also be hospitalized if their conditions deteriorate even under the government’s new hospitalization policy. Suga said he wants doctors at clinics to monitor the conditions of non-hospitalized patients and provide the care they require through home visits or online consultations. The premier stressed his determination to protect people’s lives and well-being and renewed his call for cooperation in the effort to ensure that enough hospital beds are available for COVID-19 patients.

Nakagawa reportedly told Suga that the government should declare a nationwide state of emergency, including a ban on cross-prefectural travel, to prevent the spread of the virus.