Japan virus surge leaves 15,000 on waiting lists for hospitals or other accommodations

A nurse treats a COVID-19 patient in serious condition at Kindai University Hospital in Osaka Prefecture in December. A rising number of COVID-19 patients are on waiting lists for hospitals. -KINDAI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL / VIA KYODO

KYODO, Japan, Jan 25 (The Japan Times/ANN): At least 15,058 people were on waiting lists for a hospital or a designated accommodation after testing positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month in the 11 prefectures covered by a state of emergency, a Kyodo News survey found, as public health centers have been swamped with a surge in cases cases.

A growing number of patients on waiting lists have died at home.