[Background and Methods] Municipal hospitals play a central role in treating patients with COVID-19 in their respective districts. For patients with psychiatric disorders, municipal psychiatry hospitals are responsible for this task. To investigate the status of COVID-19 treatment, we conducted a questionnaire survey of member institutions of the Japan Municipal Hospital Association in February 2021.
 [Results] Questionnaires were distributed to 40 psychiatry hospitals and 9 psychiatric centers at the general hospitals; 44 returned the completed forms (response rate 89.8%). In total, 481 patients were admitted to the 16 institutions among the 32 that prepared beds designated for the treatment of COVID-19. Of 481 patients, 187 (39.5%) had an ICD-10 diagnosis of F2,174 (36.8) were F0, and 48 (10.1%) were F7. Moreover, 215 (45.5%) were admitted from psychiatry hospitals, 106 (22.4%) from their own home, and 70 (14.8%) from elderly facilities. For COVID-19,32 patients were transferred from general beds to psychiatry beds. Nine patients were admitted under administrative involuntary hospitalization. Indeed, 116 (24.3%) patients were hospitalized not under the Mental Health and Welfare Law, but because of deterioration of conditions caused by COVID-19 infection. Among these patients, 41 were transferred to general beds.
 [Discussion] This study revealed the importance of countermeasures against clusters at psychiatric hospitals and facilities for elderly people. Psychiatry hospitals should have an infection control team. Our study provides useful information to support the future development of designated beds for psychiatric patients with infectious diseases. The survey also revealed that issues exist with implementation of the Mental Health and Welfare Law. Urgent discussions are needed, for which the Infectious Diseases Control Law or the Mental Welfare Law should be prioritized.
 Authors' abstract