新型コロナウイルス感染症の流行と疫学的解析について（その3）

抄録

Due to the spread of novel coronaviral disease (COVID-19) in Japan, in February and March 2020, an expert panel established in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare advised governors of Hokkaido, Osaka, and Tokyo to enhance control of peoples’ movement. On March 2^nd, Prime Minister announced the national closure of primary and junior high schools to control the spread of COVID-19 although this strategy lacked scientific reasoning. Since the number of newly infected patients kept increasing, the government announced a state of emergency against the disease. During such rapid change of infection status and control measures, the data-sharing system was developed due to the contribution of non-beneficial specialists. Experts started directly providing scientific information to people via the internet and SNS. Even a technical background of the complicated mathematical model was publicized via an internet video site-based seminar held by a leading modeler. Such direct communication between experts and people caused frustration in both the expert and the government side. Finally, the government ordered the dissolution of the expert panel when the first emergency call was lifted. In this paper, looking back at the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan, I briefly describe how the epidemiologists and researchers have associated with the governments, public, and society over the decision-making of control measures and their impact since the first announcement of the state of emergency by the government.