COVID-19 in Okayama Prefecture: Looking back and looking forward

In Japan, clinical and experimental studies addressing COVID-19 have been increasing in number since early February 2020, with many case reports being published. Concurrently, many notifications and guidelines have been issued from the government and academic societies. Taking optimal measures at the prefectural level as well as the national level is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Surveying and analyzing details of the incidences of infected persons in each prefecture is extremely important. This report describes the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 observed in Okayama Prefecture, followed by discussion of the direction of public health actions to be taken in the future. We reiterate the crucial importance of reinforcing and maintaining current public health measures, including rapid and detailed compilation of information related to infected persons and their surroundings, appropriate blocking of viral transmission, and early containment of infected persons, to minimize the spread of infection especially during the overlapping epidemic period of influenza in Okayama Prefecture.