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COVID-19 Coronavirus: situation in Japan

The weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
1,709 (- 533)
1,554 (- 490)
1,623 (- 312)
1,520 (- 424)
1,308 (- 79)
868 (- 68)
1,437 (+ 19)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
61 (- 37) - 803 (- 252)
82 (- 16) - 763 (- 252)
51 (- 15) - 775 (- 167)
45 (- 24) - 740 (-150 )
35 (- 21) - 714 (- 138)
23 (- 15) - 721 (- 128)
43 (- 24) - 697 (- 130)

Infections in selected prefectures:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
Aichi
110 (- 137)
99 (- 72)
106 (- 43)
89 (- 34)
84 (- 18)
35 (- 11)
96 (- 2)
Chiba
113 (+ 7)
124 (+ 22)
135 (+ 22)
119 (+ 40)
103 (- 2)
85 (- 6)
74 (- 13)
Fukuoka
40 (- 26)
41 (- 1)
26 (- 32)
47 (+- 0)​
36 (- 1)
17 (- 6)
36 (+ 1)
Hokkaido
88 (- 91)
73 (- 109)
76 (- 69)
73 (- 52)
52 (- 30)
37 (- 37)
29 (- 58)
Hyogo
34 (- 30)
39 (- 11)
37 (- 9)
18 (- 20)
19 (- 5)
14 (- 7)
27 (- 17)
Kanagawa
210 (+ 8)
185 (- 4)
231 (+ 11)
182 (- 65)
162 (- 8)
135 (- 6)
163 (+ 3)
Okinawa
115 (- 59)
97 (- 69)
86 (- 59)
97 (- 60)
61 (- 43)
33 (- 21)
98 104 (- 6)
Osaka
108 (- 45)
95 (- 53)
79 (- 55)
111 (- 15)
106 (+ 10)
42 (- 15)
107 (- 3)
Saitama
87 (- 34)
79 (- 31)
64 (- 23)
79 (- 4)
72 (+ 7)
53 (+ 12)
93 (+ 23)
Tokyo
501 (+ 61)
452 (+ 13)
453 (+ 18)
388 (- 79)
376 (+ 72)
236 (+ 27)
435 (+ 98)

Vaccinations as of 21/06/2021:

First dose: 21.7m (53.30%)
Second dose: 9.15m (22.44%)

 
We got our vaccinations coupons today. Yay, things really seem to be speeding up!

Japan has surpassed 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered on a single day, meeting Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's target as the inoculation drive accelerates ahead of the political pressure points of the Tokyo Olympics and a general election. The milestone was achieved on June 14, according to data compiled by Bloomberg using figures released from the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday. There's a considerable lag in the reporting of vaccination data by local authorities, so much so that vaccine minister Taro Kono has been reported to suggest the government might skip shipments of shots to municipalities that are slow to report.



Unfortunately, Tokyo reported 619 new infections today.

Tokyo confirmed 619 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, rising by more than 100 from the 501 infections reported a week ago — a worrying jump with the Summer Olympics in the capital just one month away. The tally, which was also more than the 440 cases reported June 9, was the first time the capital marked more than 600 cases in a day since May 28.

 
The weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
1,709 (- 533)
1,554 (- 490)
1,623 (- 312)
1,520 (- 424)
1,308 (- 79)
868 (- 68)
1,437 (+ 19)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
61 (- 37) - 803 (- 252)
82 (- 16) - 763 (- 252)
51 (- 15) - 775 (- 167)
45 (- 24) - 740 (-150 )
35 (- 21) - 714 (- 138)
23 (- 15) - 721 (- 128)
43 (- 24) - 697 (- 130)

Infections in selected prefectures:

16/06 (Wed)17/06 (Thu)18/06 (Fri)19/06 (Sat)20/06 (Son)21/06 (Mon)22/06 (Tue)
Aichi
110 (- 137)
99 (- 72)
106 (- 43)
89 (- 34)
84 (- 18)
35 (- 11)
96 (- 2)
Chiba
113 (+ 7)
124 (+ 22)
135 (+ 22)
119 (+ 40)
103 (- 2)
85 (- 6)
74 (- 13)
Fukuoka
40 (- 26)
41 (- 1)
26 (- 32)
47 (+- 0)​
36 (- 1)
17 (- 6)
36 (+ 1)
Hokkaido
88 (- 91)
73 (- 109)
76 (- 69)
73 (- 52)
52 (- 30)
37 (- 37)
29 (- 58)
Hyogo
34 (- 30)
39 (- 11)
37 (- 9)
18 (- 20)
19 (- 5)
14 (- 7)
27 (- 17)
Kanagawa
210 (+ 8)
185 (- 4)
231 (+ 11)
182 (- 65)
162 (- 8)
135 (- 6)
163 (+ 3)
Okinawa
115 (- 59)
97 (- 69)
86 (- 59)
97 (- 60)
61 (- 43)
33 (- 21)
98 104 (- 6)
Osaka
108 (- 45)
95 (- 53)
79 (- 55)
111 (- 15)
106 (+ 10)
42 (- 15)
107 (- 3)
Saitama
87 (- 34)
79 (- 31)
64 (- 23)
79 (- 4)
72 (+ 7)
53 (+ 12)
93 (+ 23)
Tokyo
501 (+ 61)
452 (+ 13)
453 (+ 18)
388 (- 79)
376 (+ 72)
236 (+ 27)
435 (+ 98)

Vaccinations as of 21/06/2021:

First dose: 21.7m (53.30%)
Second dose: 9.15m (22.44%)

Your tables are very useful when Japan Today produces its facile reports on the number of new cases, comparing them with the previous day while knowing full well that the number of cases rises and falls with a weekly cycle. Today, they reported "317 cases, down 69 from Sunday", when they should have reported "317 cases, up 81 from last Monday".
 
And here are the weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
1,779 (+ 70)
1,676 (+ 122)
1,709 (+ 86)
1,633 (+ 113)
1,283 (- 25)
1,002 (+ 134)
1,381 (- 56)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
42 (- 19) - 646 (- 157)
57 (- 25) - 629 (- 134)
45 (- 6) - 590 (- 185)
28 (- 17) - 577 (- 163)
31 (- 4) - 567 (- 147)
12 (- 11) - 564 (- 157)
30 (- 13) - 552 (- 145)

Infections in selected prefectures:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
Aichi
75 (- 35)
100 (+ 1)
66 (- 40)
46 (- 43)
41 (- 43)
20 (- 15)
49 (- 47)
Chiba
131 (+ 18)
129 (+ 5)
126 (- 11)
108 (- 11)
108 (+ 5)
121 (+ 36)
92 (+ 18)
Fukuoka
32 (- 8)
36 (- 5)
37 (+ 11)
40 (- 7)
25 (- 11)
17 (+- 0)​
26 (- 10)
Hokkaido
49 (- 39)
26 (- 47)
33 (- 43)
47 (- 26)
28 (- 24)
27 (- 10)
27 (- 2)
Hyogo
22 (- 12)
17 (- 22)
20 (- 17)
34 (+ 16)
16 (- 3)
4 (- 10)
4 (- 23)
Kanagawa
201 (- 9)
192 (+ 7)
221 (- 10)
231 (+ 49)
204 (+ 42)
192 (+ 57)
181 (+ 18)
Okinawa
96 (- 19)
62 (- 35)
82 (- 4)
74 (- 23)
61 (+- 0)​
25 (- 8)
84 (- 14)
Osaka
125 (- 17)
116 (+ 21)
120 (+ 41)
88 (- 23)
96 (- 10)
40 (- 2)
101 (- 6)
Saitama
108 (+ 21)
119 (+ 40)
100 (+ 36)
96 (+ 17)
85 (+ 13)
68 (+ 15)
76 (- 17)
Tokyo
619 (+ 118)
570 (+ 118)
562 (+ 109)
534 (+ 146)
386 (+ 10)
317 (+ 81)
476 (+ 41)

Vaccinations as of 29/06/2021:

Health professionals:

1st dose: 5.88m
2nd dose: 4.83m

General population:

1st dose: 23.03m
2nd dose: 9.76m

 
And here are the weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
1,779 (+ 70)
1,676 (+ 122)
1,709 (+ 86)
1,633 (+ 113)
1,283 (- 25)
1,002 (+ 134)
1,381 (- 56)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
42 (- 19) - 646 (- 157)
57 (- 25) - 629 (- 134)
45 (- 6) - 590 (- 185)
28 (- 17) - 577 (- 163)
31 (- 4) - 567 (- 147)
12 (- 11) - 564 (- 157)
30 (- 13) - 552 (- 145)

Infections in selected prefectures:

23/06 (Wed)24/06 (Thu)25/06 (Fri)26/06 (Sat)27/06 (Son)28/06 (Mon)29/06 (Tue)
Aichi
75 (- 35)
100 (+ 1)
66 (- 40)
46 (- 43)
41 (- 43)
20 (- 15)
49 (- 47)
Chiba
131 (+ 18)
129 (+ 5)
126 (- 11)
108 (- 11)
108 (+ 5)
121 (+ 36)
92 (+ 18)
Fukuoka
32 (- 8)
36 (- 5)
37 (+ 11)
40 (- 7)
25 (- 11)
17 (+- 0)​
26 (- 10)
Hokkaido
49 (- 39)
26 (- 47)
33 (- 43)
47 (- 26)
28 (- 24)
27 (- 10)
27 (- 2)
Hyogo
22 (- 12)
17 (- 22)
20 (- 17)
34 (+ 16)
16 (- 3)
4 (- 10)
4 (- 23)
Kanagawa
201 (- 9)
192 (+ 7)
221 (- 10)
231 (+ 49)
204 (+ 42)
192 (+ 57)
181 (+ 18)
Okinawa
96 (- 19)
62 (- 35)
82 (- 4)
74 (- 23)
61 (+- 0)​
25 (- 8)
84 (- 14)
Osaka
125 (- 17)
116 (+ 21)
120 (+ 41)
88 (- 23)
96 (- 10)
40 (- 2)
101 (- 6)
Saitama
108 (+ 21)
119 (+ 40)
100 (+ 36)
96 (+ 17)
85 (+ 13)
68 (+ 15)
76 (- 17)
Tokyo
619 (+ 118)
570 (+ 118)
562 (+ 109)
534 (+ 146)
386 (+ 10)
317 (+ 81)
476 (+ 41)

Vaccinations as of 28/06/2021:

First dose: 24.8m (60.88%)
Second dose: 12.7m (31.07%)

I assume that the percentages for the vaccines are the percentages for people over 65.

And 714 cases in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Considering that there were over 26000 new cases in the UK yesterday, a country with a high vaccination rate, I can't see things being normal for a while.
 
I have updated the vaccination stats; the numbers presented were a bit confusing:

Vaccinations as of 29/06/2021:

Health professionals:
1st dose: 5.88m
2nd dose: 4.83m

General population:
1st dose: 23.03m
2nd dose: 9.76m


Is the increase in the UK related to the Delta variant?
 

Zero-risk bias


The JT expands on the Japanese anti-vaccine movement, an incoherent demographic consisting of health fanatics, conspiracy buffs, and those deeply suspicious of vaccines "due to fear of side-effects".

Distrust of vaccines is relatively high in Japan, where a spate of past lawsuits over side effects and heated media coverage of post-vaccination ill health have made authorities wary of touting the safety and effectiveness of new vaccines compared with other countries. The public attitude toward them is consequently lukewarm. A global survey by Imperial College London and polling company YouGov showed in May that Japan, alongside South Korea, had the lowest share of respondents who said they trust COVID-19 vaccines among the 15 countries polled, at 47%. [...]

The poll, conducted in May by Cross Marketing Inc., found the percentage of those who said they "definitely don't want to get vaccinated even if their turn comes" stood at 4.7%, versus the 12.7% who "don't want to get vaccinated very much even if their turn comes" and the 33.4% who "want to get vaccinated after they wait and see how it goes."

In contrast, vaccine hesitancy in Japan is not so much an expression of activism as it is an instinctive fear of safety risks, said Ikeda, who is also the vice chair of CoV-Navi, a group of doctors that fights disinformation surrounding the pandemic. [...] But in Japan, "it's more that if they are assured a vaccine has a good track record of safety and that 'everyone else is getting it,' they oblige easily," Ikeda said.



The Youtube channel of CoV-Navi, a group of Japanese and US doctors who try to provide scientifically accurate information on new coronavirus infections and new coronavirus vaccines:

 
Is the increase in the UK related to the Delta variant?
Almost entirely, as far as I understand. Scientists were predicting a moderate increase as the country opened up but there has been an over tenfold increase.
 
It looks dramatic in the UK but many countries may not be testing specifically for it.

More on the situation in Britain. The world is watching with interest because it's a country with both a high vaccination rate and a high number of delta variant cases. So far, the cases haven't resulted in large numbers of hospitalisations and deaths. I'll shut up about my country now on this forum about Japan! 'We are a petri dish': world watches UK's race between vaccine and virus
 
More on the situation in Britain. The world is watching with interest because it's a country with both a high vaccination rate and a high number of delta variant cases. So far, the cases haven't resulted in large numbers of hospitalisations and deaths. I'll shut up about my country now on this forum about Japan! 'We are a petri dish': world watches UK's race between vaccine and virus

I assume the world will soon be watching Japan with great interest, too. O variant? O for Olympics.

And we still have this thread for global developments. :)

 
The weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

30/06 (Wed)01/07 (Thu)02/07 (Fri)03/07 (Sat)04/07 (Son)05/07 (Mon)06/07 (Tue)
1,821 (+ 42)
1,754 (+ 78)
1,777 (+ 68)
1,881 (+ 248)
1,485 (+ 202)
1,030 (+ 28)
1,670 (+ 289)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

30/06 (Wed)01/07 (Thu)02/07 (Fri)03/07 (Sat)04/07 (Son)05/07 (Mon)06/07 (Tue)
35 (- 7) - 523 (- 123)
41 (- 16) - 517 (- 112)
21 (- 24) - 511 (- 79)
22 (- 6) - 501 (- 76)
18 (- 13) - 496 (- 71)
6 (- 6) - 491 (- 73)
22 (- 8) - 481 (- 71)

Infections in selected prefectures:

30/06 (Wed)01/07 (Thu)02/07 (Fri)03/07 (Sat)04/07 (Son)05/07 (Mon)06/07 (Tue)
Aichi
53 (- 22)
49 (- 51)
44 (- 22)
45 (- 1)
64 (+ 23)
21 (+ 1)
52 (+ 3)
Chiba
156 (+ 25)
139 (+ 10)
149 (- 23)
157 (+ 49)
141 (+ 33)
112 (- 9)
138 (+ 46)
Fukuoka
43 (+ 11)
26 (- 11)
24 (- 13)
36 (- 4)
28 (+ 3)
16 (- 1)
43 (+ 17)
Hokkaido
38 (- 11)
39 (+ 13)
26 (- 7)
30 (- 17)
39 (+ 11)
29 (+ 2)
34 (+ 7)
Hyogo
28 (+ 6)
32 (+ 15)
32 (+ 12)
22 (- 12)
27 (+ 11)
13 (+ 9)
34 (+ 30)
Kanagawa
209 (+ 8)
211 (+ 19)
230 (+ 9)
254 (+ 23)
226 (+ 22)
180 (- 12)
198 (+ 17)
Okinawa
67 (- 29)
63 (+ 1)
61 (- 21)
76 (+ 2)
34 (- 27)
28 (+ 3)
62 (- 22)
Osaka
108 (- 17)
108 (- 8)
123 (+ 3)
148 (+ 60)
88 (- 8)
78 (+ 38)
136 (+ 35)
Saitama
109 (+ 1)
142 (+ 23)
125 (+ 25)
116 (+ 20)
124 (+ 39)
76 (+ 8)
137 (+ 61)
Tokyo
714 (+ 95)
673 (+ 103)
660 (+ 98)
716 (+ 182)
518 (+ 132)
342 (+ 25)
593 (+ 117)

Vaccinations as of 5 July 2021:

52.6m; fully vaccinated: 19.1m (15.2%)



Tokyo reported a staggering 920 new infections today. PM Suga will decide tomorrow whether a new SoE will be imposed on Tokyo and several other prefectures. Tokyo's and Osaka's quasi-state of emergency is set to expire Sunday. The news reported tonight that the new SoE might be extended to 22 August.

 
More policy zigzagging while the number of new daily infections in Tokyo approaches 1,000.

Opposition lawmakers were quick to pounce on a comment by a state minister indicating financial institutions could apply pressure on bars and restaurants that refuse to heed a government request to temporarily close by withholding loans to desperate businesses. The government's request comes under the terms of a new state of emergency for the novel coronavirus pandemic while the Tokyo Olympics are in progress.

Source: Nishimura under fire for issuing 'threat' against bars, restaurants

 
A
More policy zigzagging while the number of new daily infections in Tokyo approaches 1,000.



Source: Nishimura under fire for issuing 'threat' against bars, restaurants

As far as I know, Japan is the only country to have placed such a focus on alcohol while neglecting other stronger measures. It does seem to be a case of scapegoating to avoid having to make difficult decisions.
 
I've avoided talking about the issue for a while (on this forum, at least; god knows I grumble and gripe plenty amongst family and friends ;)), but the sheer hypocrisy and incompetence displayed in the policies being enacted by the Japanese government (or governments, really, as what's being done—and not done—on the prefectural level by governors like Koike in Tokyo and Yoshimura in Osaka is just as embarrassing) is completely beyond the pale at this point.

In what logical world does a "state of emergency" mean that there's absolutely no problem—no sir, none whatsoever—with going full speed ahead holding the single largest event in the world, bringing some 90,000 people from around the globe into Tokyo while the owner of the 8-seat sake bar in my neighborhood who has jumped through countless hoops, filled out countless forms, installed acrylic partitions, etc. etc. time and again to meet the arbitrary, constantly shifting standards imposed by the Tokyo government over the past year now is prohibited from serving even a single cup of sake to someone who wants to have a quiet drink alone after work.

And these ridiculous threats of fining liquor stores and wholesalers, or getting financial institutions to apply pressure and so on and so forth. It's really gotten to the point where it's almost criminal. Meanwhile, the government has fumbled the ball with the latest vaccine shipment, such that many local municipalities—who originally were threatened with fines by the national government if their rollout was too slow—now have put a freeze on reservations because they don't know when they'll have enough doses coming in.

And so at the end of the day, it's the same story it's been from the beginning. The government does jack all, blunders and bungles pretty much everything and then Suga and Koike go on TV and talk with very serious faces in grave tones about how the Japanese people just have to suck it up and grin and bear it for the greater good. And all the restaurants/izakaya/bars/movie theaters/live music venues who are going to go out of business, the college students who can't even go to their own campuses to take real classes where they can make and interact with friends, the grade school students who can't have their field trips or sports days, and so on and so forth have to pick up the bill so that the incompetent, corrupt fat cats can have their Olympics and collect their bloody (literally) paychecks.

It would be absolutely hilarious if it weren't so goddamned sad.

</rant>
 
Last edited:
Here are the weekly updates: the number of new infections is surging, the number of Covid-19-related deaths and severe cases on the other hand is decreasing.


Nationwide infections:

07/07 (Wed)08/07 (Thu)09/07 (Fri)10/07 (Sat)11/07 (Son)12/07 (Mon)13/07 (Tue)
2,191 (+ 370)
2,246 (+ 492)
2,278 (+ 501)
2,458 (+ 577)
2,032 (+ 547)
1,506 (+ 476)
2,386 (+ 716)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

07/07 (Wed)08/07 (Thu)09/07 (Fri)10/07 (Sat)11/07 (Son)12/07 (Mon)13/07 (Tue)
14 (- 21) - 480 (- 43)
17 (- 24) - 464 (- 53)
20 (- 1) - 441 (- 70)
11 (- 11) - 428 (- 73)
6 (- 12) - 425 (- 71)
7 (+ 1) - 432 (- 59)
18 (- 4) - 424 (- 57)

Infections in selected prefectures:

07/07 (Wed)08/07 (Thu)09/07 (Fri)10/07 (Sat)11/07 (Son)12/07 (Mon)13/07 (Tue)
Aichi
85 (+ 32)
49 (+- 0)​
66 (+ 22)
64 (+ 19)
64 (+- 0)​
42 (+ 21)
70 (+ 18)
Chiba
139 (- 17)
200 (+ 61)
180 (+ 31)
204 (+ 47)
183 (+ 42)
114 (+ 2)
180 (+ 42)
Fukuoka
43 (+- 0)​
41 (+ 15)
60 (+ 36)
54 (+ 18)
35 (+ 7)
44 (+ 28)
50 (+ 7)
Hokkaido
67 (+ 29)
62 (+ 23)
50 (+ 24)
64 (+ 34)
56 (+ 17)
47 (+ 18)
60 (+ 26)
Hyogo
36 (+ 8)
50 (+ 18)
38 (+ 6)
45 (+ 23)
44 (+ 17)
17 (+ 4)
80 (+ 46)
Kanagawa
250 (+ 41)
322 (+ 111)
355 (+ 125)
310 (+ 56)
389 (+ 163)
280 (+ 100)
308 (+ 110)
Okinawa
58 (- 9)
35 (- 28)
55 (- 6)
64 (- 12)
30 (- 4)
28 (+- 0)​
65 (+ 3)
Osaka
151 (+ 43)
125 (+ 17)
143 (+ 20)
200 (+ 52)
167 (+ 79)
105 (+ 27)
225 (+ 89)
Saitama
157 (+ 48)
155 (+ 13)
150 (+ 25)
147 (+ 31)
163 (+ 39)
110 (+ 34)
179 (+ 42)
Tokyo
920 (+ 206)
896 (+ 223)
822 (+ 162)
950 (+ 234)
614 (+ 96)
502 (+ 160)
830 (+ 237)

Vaccinations as of 13 July 2021:

60.3m (+ 7.7m); fully vaccinated: 22.7m (+3.6m) (17.9% of the total population)



Today, Tokyo reported 1,149 new infections.

 
The weekly updates:


Nationwide infections:

14/07 (Wed)15/07 (Thu)16/07 (Fri)17/07 (Sat)18/07 (Son)19/07 (Mon)20/07 (Tue)
3,194 (+ 1,003)
3,418 (+ 1,172)
3,432 (+ 1,154)
3,886 (+ 1,428)
3,103 (+ 1,071)
2,329 (+ 823)
3,758 (+ 1,372)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

14/07 (Wed)15/07 (Thu)16/07 (Fri)17/07 (Sat)18/07 (Son)19/07 (Mon)20/07 (Tue)
20 (+ 6) - 412 (- 68)
22 (+ 5) - 396 (- 68)
9 (- 11) - 376 (- 65)
16 (+ 5) - 382 (- 46)
6 (- 12) - 378 (- 47)
12 (+ 9) - 392 (- 40)
20 18 (+ 2) - 406 (- 18)

Infections in selected prefectures:

14/07 (Wed)15/07 (Thu)16/07 (Fri)17/07 (Sat)18/07 (Son)19/07 (Mon)20/07 (Tue)
Aichi
71 (- 14)
74 (+ 25)
67 (+ 1)
75 (+ 11)
94 (+ 30)
36 (- 6)
94 (+ 24)
Chiba
208 (+ 69)
253 (+ 53)
277 (+ 97)
244 (+ 40)
254 (+ 71)
234 (+ 120)
199 (+ 19)
Fukuoka
95 (+ 52)
71 (+ 30)
58 (- 2)
60 (+ 6)
79 (+ 44)
46 (+ 2)
91 (+ 41)
Hokkaido
75 (+ 8)
85 (+ 23)
73 (+ 23)
111 (+ 47)
107 (+ 51)
70 (+ 23)
104 (+ 44)
Hyogo
78 (+ 42)
77 (+ 27)
81 (+ 42)
122 (+ 77)
75 (+ 31)
39 (+ 22)
129 (+ 49)
Kanagawa
361 (+ 111)
403 (+ 81)
355 (+ 125)
539 (+ 229)
460 (+ 71)
412 (+ 132)
433 (+ 125)
Okinawa
83 (+ 25)
60 (+ 25)
76 (+ 21)
81 (+ 17)
70 (+ 40)
35 (+ 7)
154 (+ 89)
Osaka
349 (+ 198)
324 (+ 199)
254 (+ 111)
380 (+ 180)
262 (+ 95)
224 (+ 119)
313 (+ 88)
Saitama
243 (+ 86)
328 (+ 173)
290 (+ 140)
318 (+ 171)
287 (+ 124)
199 (+ 89)
314 (+ 135)
Tokyo
1,149 (+ 229)
1,308 (+ 412)
1,271 (+ 449)
1,410 (+ 460)
1,008 (+ 394)
727 (+ 225)
1,387 (+ 557)

Vaccinations as of 19 July 2021:

74m (+ 13.7m); fully vaccinated: 29.4m (+6.7m) (23.3%)

 
Starting today, people who have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 can apply for vaccine passports that will allow them to travel internationally. So far, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria and Poland have agreed to ease COVID-19 quarantine rules for holders of the Japanese certificates. At the same time, South Korea will also accept them as one of the documents needed in exempting holders from quarantine requirements.

The certificates will be official records issued free of charge by local municipalities showing a person has been fully inoculated against COVID-19, with information such as name, passport number and date of vaccination also included. People who wish to obtain the certificates will be required to submit in person or via mail documents, including the application form, passport and vaccination tickets. The application form and the certificate are currently restricted to paper, but the Japanese government is seeking to eventually introduce digital application and issuance.



vaccination-passport.jpg
 
Tokyo today logged a record number of cases with 2,848 new infections. Not surprising, after a four-day weekend with beaches in Chiba and Kanagawa (and elsewhere, I guess) crowded with people and many travelling to Okinawa and Hokkaido. Yesterday, Kanagawa and Chiba reported 540 and 509 infections. With some 130 cases related to the Olympics, this surge cannot be blamed on the Games (yet).

Tuesday's figure marked the eighth straight day with over 1,000 cases reported. New daily infections in the capital averaged 1,762.6 in the week to Tuesday, compared with 1,180 the previous week. The number of severe patients stood at 82 on Tuesday, the same as Monday. With the capital seeing a surge in infections, Tokyo has asked hospitals to prepare more beds for COVID-19 patients, broadcaster TBS said on earlier Tuesday. And with hospitals admitting growing numbers of patients, Tokyo aims to raise the number of beds to 6,406 by early next month from the current capacity of 5,967, TBS said. Hospitals should look at pushing back planned surgery and scaling down other treatments, the broadcaster said, citing a notice to medical institutions from city authorities. Health experts had warned that seasonal factors, increased mobility, and the spread of variants would lead to a rebound in COVID-19 cases this summer.

 
Here are the weekly updates (21-27 July 2021):


Nationwide infections:

21/07 (Wed)22/07 (Thu)23/07 (Fri)24/07 (Sat)25/07 (Son)26/07 (Mon)27/07 (Tue)
4,943 (+ 1,749)
5,397 (+ 1,979)
4,225 (+ 793)
3,574 (- 312)
5,020 (+ 1,917)
4,692 (+ 2,363)
7,629 (+ 3,871)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

21/07 (Wed)22/07 (Thu)23/07 (Fri)24/07 (Sat)25/07 (Son)26/07 (Mon)27/07 (Tue)
20 (+- 0) - 390 (- 22)
6 (- 16) - 392 (- 4)
8 (- 1) - 431 (+ 55)
8 (- 8) - 436 (+ 54)
4 (- 2) - 448 (+ 70)
12 (+- 0) - 466 (+ 74)
12 (- 8) - 514 (+ 108)

Infections in selected prefectures:

21/07 (Wed)22/07 (Thu)23/07 (Fri)24/07 (Sat)25/07 (Son)26/07 (Mon)27/07 (Tue)
Aichi
109 (+ 38)
146 (+ 72)
69 (+ 2)
69 (- 6)
109 (+ 15)
70 (+ 34)
174 (+ 80)
Chiba
302 (+ 94)
343 (+ 90)
334 (+ 57)
301 (+ 57)
279 (+ 25)
509 (+ 275)
405 (+ 206)
Fukuoka
136 (+ 41)
139 (+ 68)
152 (+ 94)
99 (+ 39)
162 (+ 83)
172 (+ 126)
236 (+ 145)
Hokkaido
118 (+ 43)
140 (+ 55)
79 (+ 6)
118 (+ 7)
113 (+ 6)
137 (+ 67)
138 (+ 34)
Hyogo
120 (+ 42)
149 (+ 72)
61 (- 20)
122 (+ 77)
138 (+ 63)
75 (+ 36)
260 (+ 131)
Kanagawa
522 (+ 161)
631 (+ 228)
652 (+ 297)
547 (+ 8)
531 (+ 71)
540 (+ 128)
758 (+ 325)
Okinawa
169 (+ 86)
153 (+ 93)
100 (+ 24)
99 (+ 18)
209 (+ 139)
116 (+ 81)
354 (+ 200)
Osaka
491 (+ 142)
461 (+ 137)
379 (+ 125)
283 (- 97)
471 (+ 209)
374 (+ 150)
741 (+ 428)
Saitama
381 (+ 138)
510 (+ 182)
401 (+ 111)
345 (+ 27)
449 (+ 162)
449 (+ 250)
593 (+ 279)
Tokyo
1,832 (+ 683)
1,979 (+ 671)
1,359 (+ 88)
1,128 (- 282)
1,763 (+ 755)
1,429 (+ 702)
2,848 (+ 1,461)

Vaccinations as of 26 July 2021:

81m (+ 7m); fully vaccinated: 33.4m (+4m) (26.9%)

 
Yesterday, Wednesday, saw the highest number of new daily infections in Tokyo (3,177), Kanagawa (1,053), Saitama (870), and Chiba (577). Other prefectures saw serious spikes, too: Osaka (798), Fukuoka (405), Okinawa (347), Ibaraki (194), and Ishikawa (119). The national tally of 9,576 cases is the highest ever.

The Japanese government now seems to appeal to those in their 20s and 30s to get vaccinated:



However, there is good news, too: all of Japan's medical workers have finally been vaccinated.

 
Yesterday, Tokyo reported 3,865 cases, with 10,699 cases nationwide. Today, Tokyo had over 3,000 new infections. The government extended the current - fourth - state of emergency to 31 August and expanded it to Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba and Osaka prefectures. Quasi-emergency measures will take effect Monday in Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures.

With the latest measures, the Suga administration, well aware of the public's virus fatigue, essentially wants to buy time to vaccinate as many people as possible to push new cases downwards. As of Thursday, 27.6% of the population had been fully vaccinated. "I really, really want this to be the last state of emergency we're going to impose," one senior administration official said Thursday night. Time is working against Japan, with public fatigue, the delta variant and sustained foot traffic in major cities casting doubt upon the central government's desperate attempts to stifle the rapidly spreading virus. "Infections are rapidly spreading in the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas," Suga said at the end of a task force meeting. "There's a possibility that the number of serious cases will be higher and hospitals further strained if the number of infected continues to surge as the delta variant rapidly becomes dominant."


A new record for the total number of COVID-19 cases around Japan was to be set on July 30 as the preliminary total already exceeded the 10,693 recorded the previous day. Tokyo metropolitan government officials said the host city of the Summer Olympics recorded 3,300 new cases on July 30, the third straight day the daily tally has exceeded 3,000. The daily average for the week ending July 30 for the capital was 2,501.4, which represented an increase of 80.5 percent over the previous week. Once again, almost half of the new patients were under 40, with 1,208 in their 20s, 725 in their 30s, 515 in their 40s and 324 in their 50s. There were another 275 aged between 10 and 19, but only 82 who were 65 or older. The metropolitan government said a record 1,367 of the latest patients were found with the highly virulent Delta variant. It also reported two more fatalities from COVID-19 as well as 88 patients with symptoms serious enough to require the use of a ventilator or other equipment to breathe.



Also, Astrazeneca's vaccine has finally been approved for people aged over 40. If only they hadn't sent millions of doses overseas.
 
The case numbers continue to explode: new records all across the board.
  • nationwide 12,341
  • Tokyo 4,058
  • Kanagawa (1,580), Osaka (1,040), Saitama (1,036), Chiba (792), Fukuoka (504), Okinawa (a record high (439), Hyogo (329), Aichi (287), Hokkaido (284), Kyoto (199), Ibaraki (172), Tochigi (170), Shizuoka (168), Gunma (136), Ishikawa (90), Kumamoto (83), Fukushima (82), Hiroshima (65), Okayama (65), Miyagi (65), Nara (59), Niigata (58), Shiga (45), Mie (44) and Kagawa (43)


It has become obvious that the willingness to comply with coronavirus safety measures is shrinking, in particular among the young. I was amazed to see dozens of university students hold BBQ parties today under the bridges along the Tama River. No social distancing, no masks, and streams of booze.
 
I think the booze is irrelevant. AFAIK only Japan and S Africa have made alcohol a part of Covid countermeasures, and at least S Africa did it consistently, banning its sale.

It would have been interesting to have had a chat with those people to get their opinions on the virus. Would they simply not care or would you get a more thoughtful reply about the Olympics being held and the fact that young people are being blamed for the pandemic in Japan - why are the people in power never blamed? - so they may as well enjoy themselves.
 
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