Cluster-Based Approach to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in Japan, from February to April 2020

[摘要] On February 25，2020，the Japanese Ministry ofHealth，Labour and Welfare (MHLW) establisheda coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) clusterresponse taskforce designed to facilitate collaborationbetween governmental officials and non-governmentalpublic health experts in Japan. Experts from multipleinstitutions were invited to support the MHLW andthe taskforce worked onsite at the MHLW building inTokyo.The response taskforce supported the Ministry'sefforts toward the early detection of and appropriatecare for severe cases，early identification of andresponse to case clusters, and promotion of behavioralchange to reduce disease transmission. This closecollaboration was redesigned based on how the Japanesegovernment and academics collaborate during health-related emergencies. Here we describe and reflect on thecluster-based prevention measures instituted in Japanagainst the spread of CoVID-19 and provide insightinto the next stage of the response.

[学科分类] 传染病学