"On the issue of allowing companion support for persons with disabilities and children with special communication support needs during  hospitalization," a letter of administrative correspondence was issued by the Regional Medical Care Planning Division of the Health Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), the Headquarters for the Promotion of COVID-19 Measures, and the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities of the Social Welfare and War Victims' Relief Bureau on November 9, 2022. It was addressed to each health department of prefectures, cities with public health centers and special wards, as well as the disability health and welfare department of prefectures, designated cities, and core cities.

The purpose of the letter is that when a person with a disability and a child with special communication support needs is hospitalized due to COVID-19, it is essential that they be accompanied by a support person familiar with their needs and communication. Therefore, it requests that the local health departments and the disability health and welfare departments cooperate so that the medical institution will allow the presence of support companions for the patient as much as possible.

Behind this is the fact that in some cases, persons with disabilities and children with special communication support needs are not allowed to have a support person accompany them due to healthcare-related infection controls and similar reasons; thus, without communication support, patients have suffered inconveniences when they were hospitalized for a  COVID-19 infection.

The letter of administrative correspondence lists specific measures for the provision of "care-giving visitations for persons with severe disabilities" at medical facilities during hospitalization.

See below for more information:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001010876.pdf