Record 564 people with COVID died outside medical institutions in February: Japan police

TOKYO -- A record 564 people among those who died outside medical institutions in February from deteriorating health and other issues had coronavirus infections, an interview with Japan's National Police Agency has revealed.

The total significantly outstrips the record 250 coronavirus patients who died in similar circumstances in August 2021, and is believed to be related to the omicron variant causing a rapid increase in infections.

By location, 512 people died at "home and elsewhere," a definition including nursing homes for the elderly and other accommodation, and 52 people died in other places classed as "outside." Of the 564 people, 289 tested positive for the coronavirus after their death. COVID-19 was the identified cause of death for 226 people.

(Japanese original by Naritake Machida, Tokyo City News Department)