OSAKA: Osaka Prefecture began to treat mildly ill or asymptomatic patients of the novel coronavirus at a business hotel in the city of Osaka, the capital of the western Japan prefecture, on Tuesday, in an effort to prevent the local medical system from collapsing amid the crisis.

The prefectural government has set aside funds for 3,000 rooms for such people.

On Tuesday, 13 hospitalized people moved to Super Hotel Osaka Natural Hot Springs.

Patients staying at the hotel are not allowed to leave it while they are under treatment.

Their stays will end two weeks after their symptoms subside. Nurses will be at the hotel for full-time services to check patients' conditions every day and respond to any sudden changes in their conditions.

At the hotel, 400 rooms are secured for coronavirus patients.

Employees of the hotel will work in areas that are not used by patients. But they underwent training from Self-Defense Forces personnel on putting on and taking off protective suits in case of an emergency.

"I thank the hotel for becoming the first to offer rooms (for patients) in order to protect the lives of people in the prefecture," said Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who visited the hotel on Tuesday.

Ryosuke Yamamoto, chairman of Super Hotel Co., the operator of Super Hotel Osaka Natural Hot Springs, said: "Hotels can do meaningful work to prevent the medical system from collapsing. Our employees readily responded, saying, 'Let's do it.'"

JIJI Press