SDF Central Hospital’s article on COVID-19 published on THE LANCET Infectious Diseases

On June 12th, an article from the SDF Central Hospital on the clinical features of COVID-19 patients was published on the medical journal THE LANCET Infectious Diseases.

THE LANCET was first published in 1823. It is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal and ranked as one of the top five medical journals worldwide, alongside the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the British Medical Journal, and the Annals of Internal Medicine. THE LANCET Infectious Diseases is one of the 19 specific publications derived from THE LANCET.

This article is entitled “Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in 104 people with SARS-CoV-2 infection on the Diamond Princess cruise ship: a retrospective analysis” and summarizes the results of a clinical study of the passengers and crew members from the Diamond Princess who were treated at the SDF Central Hospital.

The authors analyzed clinical records, laboratory data, and radiological findings of patients admitted from February 11th to 25th, 2020. Clinical outcomes were followed up until either discharge of patients or February 26th.

The authors classified the patients into 3 categories: asymptomatic, severe symptomatic, and mild symptomatic. Severe symptomatic cases were categorized as patients showing clinical signs of pneumonia. Patients with other clinical symptoms were defined as mild symptomatic cases. Then, patients were compared by severity of symptoms according to clinical characteristics to identify factors related to symptomatic illness among asymptomatic patients and factors related to the progression of the disease in infected patients.

The authors suggested that older age, consolidation on chest CT images, and lymphopenia were associated with disease progression of COVID-19.

Return of JS Harusame and JS Takanami

Return of JS Harusame

On June 19th, JS Harusame returned to JMSDF Sasebo Base, its home port, after completing its seven-month mission as the 35th Deployment Surface Force for Counter Piracy Enforcement (DSPE) in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. JS Harusame departed Sasebo with approx. 180 personnel on board in November 2019.

The DSPE implements counter-piracy measures with one JMSDF destroyer. They strive to ensure the safety of ships navigating in the area in two different manners; direct escort of private vessels across the Gulf of Aden, and zone defense in the assigned areas in the Gulf of Aden. The destroyer also carries eight Japan Coast Guard officers who conduct judicial law enforcement activities, including arresting and interrogating pirates, as required.

Since the first deployment in March 2009, the DSPE has escorted 3,916 private ships (as of June 30, 2020) without a single case of pirate attack.

Return of JS Takanami

On June 30th, JS Takanami returned to JMSDF Yokosuka Base, its home port, after completing its mission as the first Deployment Surface Force for Information Gathering. Minister Kono attended the return ceremony and praised the achievements of personnel who engaged in the mission. JS Kirisame replaced JS Takanami as the second surface force on June 9th and has been engaging in the current information gathering activities.

In response to rising tensions in the Middle East, the execution of information gathering activities in the region was approved by a Cabinet Decision made last December to promote whole-of-government approach for ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East and the safety of Japan-related vessels. Based on the decision, as Japan’s independent effort, JS Takanami was dispatched as the first surface force in February this year in order to strengthen the information gathering posture necessary to ensure the safety of Japan-related vessels.

JS Takanami and JS Kirisame as the Deployment Surface Force for Information Gathering have so far confirmed a total of 9,507 (as of June 30th, 2020) vessels with no particular abnormalities found in Japan-related vessels.

The MOD/JSDF will continue to put its all efforts into the counter-piracy operations and the information-gathering activities in the Middle East region.

Recent Telephone Conferences

Defense Minister’s Telephone Conferences

UAE/Papua New Guinea

Minister Kono had a video teleconference with Minister Bowardi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 9th and had a telephone conversation with Minister Soloma of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on June 16th.

In these conversations, Minister Kono and the respective ministers exchanged views on issues such as the roles to be played by the defense authorities given the global spread of COVID-19. Minister Kono explained the JSDF activities on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, activities to take measures at the airport and to prevent community-spread infection, as well as the infection-preventative measures undertaken in the JSDF operation and analysis of cases examined at the SDF Central Hospital, among other topics, by using a presentation document. Each of the ministers explained the recent situation with COVID-19 and measures taken in their respective countries. The ministers of each country agreed to share information, knowledge and lessons learned about the measures towards overcoming COVID-19.

In addition, the ministers exchanged views on the regional situation. Minister Kono also expressed the importance of continuing and strengthening defense cooperation and exchange with each country.

In the conversation with Minister Bowardi, Minister Kono explained the information gathering activities for ensuring the safe navigation of the Japan-related vessels in the Middle East. The two Ministers agreed to continue close communication for ensuring peace, stability and the safe navigation of vessels in the Middle East.

In his talks with Minister Soloma, Minister Kono underlined that both countries will continue to work together to realize the success of the PNG military band’s performance at the next or future JSDF Marching Festival, as an achievement of the capacity building project extended to the band since 2015. They also touched upon subjects, including the capacity building project in the engineering field which is currently being developed and the Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue (JPIDD), which has been postponed as a precaution against COVID-19. State Minister Yamamoto attended the telephone conversation because he visited PNG for the first time as Minister-class MOD official and had a meeting with Minister Soloma in February this year.

Chief of Staff, Joint Staff’s Telephone Conferences

General Yamazaki, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, had teleconferences with General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada and General Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee respectively on June 12th. General Yamazaki also had a teleconference with Lieutenant General Mohamed Farid Hegazy, Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces on June 23rd. In these teleconferences, the leaders exchanged opinions on each country’s situation affected by COVID-19 and each force’s activities to prevent the spread of the virus. In addition, General Yamazaki and respective leaders reaffirmed the importance of the defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and each country/union, and agreed on strengthening cooperation to address common challenges for the peace and stability in the international community as well as the region.

JGSDF Chief of Staff’s Telephone Conferences

General Yuasa, Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), had a teleconference with General Paul J. LaCamera, Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific on June 19th. They shared each other’s recognition on the defense cooperation between ground components of Japan and the U.S. The teleconference was convened with the attendance of Major General Viet X. Luong, Commander of the U.S. Army Japan.

JMSDF Chief of Staff’s Video Telephone Conferences

Admiral Yamamura, Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) held a VTC with Admiral Aquilino, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet on June 25th. Also he held a VTC with Admiral Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy on June 26th. In these conferences, the leaders had a candid discussion and agreed to continue close cooperation and information sharing, in order to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” despite the COVID-19 situation.

JASDF Chief of Staff’s Telephone Conferences

General Marumo, Chief of Staff, JASDF had a teleconference with General Philippe Lavigne, Chief of Staff, French Air Force on June 10th. In the talks, they reaffirmed the agreement of “Strategic Orientation” regarding defense cooperation and exchange and maintaining robust cooperation between the two air services.

The two air senior leaders also discussed their views on impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.