Experience of Transportation of COVID-19 Patients from Remote Islands in Okinawa Prefecture

Abstract

To prevent the spread of infectious COVID-19, patients were legally restricted from using public transportation and treated as transfers under administrative control. In Okinawa Prefecture, to transfer patients from remote islands with limited means of transportation while conducting infection control measures and medical care, the prefectural countermeasures headquarters has a transportation coordination function and coordinates with other related organizations. We overcame problems such as electromagnetic interference of equipment and issues related to transportation agreements and carried out transportation without accidents. We report this experience so that it can be used for future transfers from remote islands.