Japan to raise airport PCR tests to 10,000 per day

NHK -- Jul 22

Japan's health minister says he wants to raise the country's coronavirus testing capacity at airports to prepare for easing of travel restrictions.

Kato Katsunobu told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to raise the number of PCR tests at airports from the current maximum of 2,300 per day to 10,000 by the end of September. He said he will do so by encouraging the use of saliva in such tests.

Kato said the number of people entering Japan is expected to grow, as international travel restrictions will be relaxed in phases. He said he wants to attain the 10,000-per-day capacity by making saliva-based testing the main method.

Officials at airports including Narita and Haneda currently conduct nostril-swabbing tests. Using saliva could speed up testing.

Jul 22 (ANNnewsCH) - 空港での検査を9月中にも1万件できるよう態勢を拡充する方針です。  厚生労働省によりますと、空港の検疫所で入国者に実施している新型コロナウイルスのPCR検査は、現在一日に最大2300件が可能です。直近の1週間では一日あたり平均1400件の検査をしています。今後、入国する人の増加が見込まれるなか、厚労省は9月中に検査能力を一日1万件まで伸ばしたい考えです。無症状の人には唾液(だえき)を検体として使うPCR検査を実施するほか、短時間で結果が分かる抗原検査の機械も導入し、拡充を図るということです。