COVID-19 Coronavirus: situation in Japan

[johnnyG]

Masks work.

Mask-wearing linked to 53% cut in Covid incidence, global study finds

Researchers said results highlight the need to continue with face coverings, social distancing and handwashing alongside vaccine programmes

www.theguardian.com

 

[thomas]

Those are yesterday's numbers, the lowest since May 2020: Tokyo (6), Osaka (5), and, in the lead, Kanagawa (10). Nationwide: 50.

I was hoping I'd be able to visit my family in Europe soon, but...

EU wants calm amid virus protests; rioters called 'idiots'

In the face of demonstrations across much of Europe protesting tough COVID-19 measures over the past days, authorities on Monday pleaded for patience, calm and a willingness to get a vaccine shot in the arm as infections spike upward again. And for those who abused the protests to foment violence,…

japantoday.com

Coronavirus in Europe: the latest counts, charts and maps

Tracking the COVID-19 outbreak, updated daily

graphics.reuters.com

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (17 - 23 Nov 2021):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]17/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]18/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]19/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]20/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]21/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]22/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]23/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

204 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

163 (- 53)​

[/TD]

[TD]

159 (- 42)​

[/TD]

[TD]

112 (- 90)​

[/TD]

[TD]

143 (+ 9)​

[/TD]

[TD]

50 (- 29)​

[/TD]

[TD]

113 (- 41)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]17/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]18/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]19/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]20/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]21/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]22/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]23/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

4 (+ 1) - 78 (- 18)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+ 3) - 76 (- 16)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+ 1) - 62 (- 25)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (+- 0) - 62 (- 21)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+ 3) - 62 (- 23)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 2) - 63 (- 22)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 2) - 60 (- 22)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Infections in selected prefectures:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH][/TH]

[TH]17/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]18/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]19/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]20/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]21/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]22/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]23/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Aichi​

[/TD]

[TD]

13 (+ 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 9)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (+ 4)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Chiba​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 5)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Fukuoka​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (+ 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

18 (+ 13)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (+ 7)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Hokkaido​

[/TD]

[TD]

40 (+ 32)​

[/TD]

[TD]

20 (+ 12)​

[/TD]

[TD]

17 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

25 (+ 16)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

14 (- 21)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Hyogo​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 10)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 13)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 6)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Kanagawa​

[/TD]

[TD]

18 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

21 (+ 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

20 (+ 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (+- 0)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Okinawa​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 1)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Osaka​

[/TD]

[TD]

18 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

28 (- 36)​

[/TD]

[TD]

26 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

17 (- 13)​

[/TD]

[TD]

18 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

13 (+- 0)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Saitama​

[/TD]

[TD]

16 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 7)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Tokyo​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

20 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

16 (-6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

16 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

20 (- 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

17 (+ 2)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Vaccinations as of 22 November 2021:

196m (+ 1m); fully vaccinated: 96.5m (+ 1m) = 76.7% of population

 

[thomas]

Preparing for the sixth wave: the Nagoya Institute of Technology used AI to establish what the expected next wave will look like.

But experts are wary the sixth wave will be worse than the fifth. The central government is also assuming it will have double the infectivity of the delta-fueled fifth wave. Sixth wave preparations include creating a system by the end of November that can ensure 37,000 patients, 30% more than in the fifth wave, can be hospitalized. Amid this, predictions by an AI developed by Professor Akimasa Hirata's team at Nagoya Institute of Technology are attracting attention. To make the estimate, the team made the AI memorize vaccine efficacy, past outbreaks' cycles, the schedule of major vacations in Japan and other factors. For Tokyo, the AI predicted that new daily infection cases would continue to be 50 or less for the rest of the year, with increases starting around the end of 2021 due to year-end parties and people returning to their hometowns. Even so, it estimated the peak would be 370 in mid-January 2022.

AI predicts 370 COVID daily cases in Tokyo at 6th wave peak, but experts urge caution - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Contrary to some experts' warnings that the coronavirus sixth wave feared to hit Japan this winter could surpass the scale of the summer's fi

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

Following the example of the UK, Japan decided to impose travel restrictions for travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia over concerns over the spread of a coronavirus variant known as B.1.1.529.

The move, which takes effect Saturday, comes amid mounting concerns over the spread of a coronavirus variant known as B.1.1.529, which infectious disease experts warn could be more contagious than previous strains or render existing vaccines less effective. Britain has temporarily suspended all flights from the six countries in southern Africa, and the World Health Organization has called a special meeting to discuss the variant. After leaving the government-designated facility, travelers from South Africa and the nearby countries will need to spend a further four days in quarantine at home to ensure they are not infected. Previously, they would have been allowed to spend all 14 days at home.

Japan to restrict travel from S. Africa over variant - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will tighten restrictions on travelers from South Africa and five nearby countries after the discovery of a new coronavirus var

mainichi.jp

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I guess it will never end.

 

[thomas]

And here are the weekly updates (24-30 Nov 2021):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]24/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]25/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]26/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]27/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]28/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]29/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]30/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

77 (- 127)​

[/TD]

[TD]

119 (- 44)​

[/TD]

[TD]

121 (- 38)​

[/TD]

[TD]

126 (+ 14)​

[/TD]

[TD]

73 (- 70)​

[/TD]

[TD]

82 (+ 32)​

[/TD]

[TD]

132 (- 19)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]24/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]25/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]26/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]27/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]28/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]29/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]30/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

2 (- 2) - 58 (- 20)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 3) - 58 (- 18)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 5) - 51 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4 (+ 4) - 50 (- 12)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 4) - 43 (- 19)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (+- 0) - 43 (- 20)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 1) - 41 (- 19)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Infections in selected prefectures:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH][/TH]

[TH]24/11 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]25/11 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]26/11 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]27/11 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]28/11 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]29/11 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]30/11 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Aichi​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

4 (- 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (- 2)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Chiba​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (+ 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (-2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+ 3)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Fukuoka​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

11 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (- 10)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Hokkaido​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (- 30)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (- 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

18 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

11 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (- 17)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (- 6)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Hyogo​

[/TD]

[TD]

4 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (+- 0)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Kanagawa​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (- 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 16)​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (- 17)​

[/TD]

[TD]

11 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (- 13)​

[/TD]

[TD]

14 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (+- 0)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Okinawa​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (+ 1)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Osaka​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (- 9)​

[/TD]

[TD]

13 (- 15)​

[/TD]

[TD]

14 (- 12)​

[/TD]

[TD]

19 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

13 (- 5)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

12 (- 1)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Saitama​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 13)​

[/TD]

[TD]

10 (+ 9)​

[/TD]

[TD]

6 (- 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (+ 6)​

[/TD]

[TD]

3 (- 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

7 (+ 4)​

[/TD]

[TD]

11 (+ 5)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

Tokyo​

[/TD]

[TD]

5 (- 22)​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 7)​

[/TD]

[TD]

19 (+ 3)​

[/TD]

[TD]

16 (+- 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

9 (- 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

8 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

21 (- 4)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Vaccinations as of 25 November 2021:

197m (+ 1m); fully vaccinated: 97.3m (+ 0.8m) = 77.3% of population

 

[thomas]

Japan has reported the second case of omicron infection: the first one was a diplomat from Namibia who landed in Narita last Sunday. The second case was a "non-Japanese traveller" coming from Peru.

Man from Peru becomes Japan’s 2nd Omicron infection case | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

Meanwhile, Japan has started with the boosters:

Japan starts administering COVID booster shots amid omicron concerns - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Japan started the administration of COVID-19 booster shots across the country on the morning of Dec. 1 for those who have received their seco

mainichi.jp

 

[musicisgood]

I guess it will never end.View attachment 83488

needs some sake

 

[musicisgood]

please call them vaccine shots
boosters seem to lessen the real reason for the vax to begin with

 

[thomas]

While new infections remain low across Japan (twenty cases in Tokyo yesterday), a cluster was reported in Gunma Prefecture. Most of the 42 cases there were traced to one factory; most infected show no or mild symptoms. Twenty-nine of the 42 had received their second shot.

COVID-19 cluster in Gunma factory now up to 42 as 26 cases reported | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (01-07 Dec 2021):

Nationwide infections:

01/12 (Wed)	02/12 (Thu)	03/12 (Fri)	04/12 (Sat)	05/12 (Son)	06/12 (Mon)	07/12 (Tue)
121 (+ 44)​	127 (+ 8)​	145 (+ 24)​	131 (+ 5)​	115 (+ 42)​	60 (- 22)​	115 (- 17)​

Nationwide deaths:

01/12 (Wed)	02/12 (Thu)	03/12 (Fri)	04/12 (Sat)	05/12 (Son)	06/12 (Mon)	07/12 (Tue)
1 (- 1)​	1 (- 1)​	1 (+- 0)​	0 (- 4)​	0 (- 1)​	1 (+ 1)​	2 (+ 1)​

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

01/12 (Wed)	02/12 (Thu)	03/12 (Fri)	04/12 (Sat)	05/12 (Son)	06/12 (Mon)	07/12 (Tue)
43 (- 15)​	38 (- 20)​	32 (- 19)​	28 (- 22)​	29 (- 14)​	29 (- 14)​	28 (- 13)​

Vaccinations as of 7 December 2021:

198m (+ 1m); fully vaccinated: 97.8m (+ 0.5m) = 77.7% of population

 

[Lothor]

Cut and pasted from the Guardian coronavirus live feed

Japan's Covid-19 infections are falling in contrast with rebounds in other parts of Asia, baffling experts.

New daily infections have slowed to fewer than one per million people, the fewest among major economies except China, and there have been very few fatalities recorded in recent days.

One new hypothesis to explain the divergence is that the type of coronavirus dominant in Japan evolved in a way that short-circuited its ability to replicate.

Ituro Inoue, a professor at Japan's National Institute of Genetics, said that a subvariant of Delta, known as AY.29, now may be conferring some immunity in the population.

"I think AY.29 is protecting us from other strains," Inoue told Reuters, cautioning that his research remained a theory. "I'm not 100% confident."

Japan's late start on vaccination means that the potency of the shots are still strong. Others point to seasonal trends, that the virus tends to crest and fall in two-month intervals.

 

[johnnyG]

Yes, I've read comments about people not wearing masks here, or not properly, as 'chin diapers', but to repeat my post at the top, masks work.

There are undoubtedly other factors, but it's such a simple thing.

 

[thomas]

Today, Japan confirmed eight more cases of the omicron variant, bringing the total number of infections to twelve. No information about their medical condition or itinerary has been released so far (however, see below).

All eight entered Japan from late November to early this month, according to a government official. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara said two of the eight people are close contacts of the first case of the variant confirmed in Japan -- a person who arrived from Namibia late last month -- while declining to give further details.

Japan confirms 8 more cases of Omicron variant infection - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan has confirmed eight more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the government said Friday, bringing the total number

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

Japanese scientists have suggested that one reason for the low Covid-19 death rate in the country may lie in genetics: most Japanese have an inherited component of the immune system that can more effectively kill various coronaviruses, including the one that causes COVID-19, scientists with Riken research institute have said.

Humans have two types of adaptive immune systems that fend off pathogens based on memory from past infections with seasonal coronaviruses, a group of viruses that includes ones that causes the common cold, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Natural antibodies work as a first line of defense against the pathogens. Then, when a virus enters the body, the other defense mechanism — a powerful immune response composed of T cells inside white blood cells that bind to and kill infected cells — kicks in. The key to preventing serious COVID-19 cases is activated T cells and that's where human leukocyte antigen (HLA) comes in. This complex set of genes helps T cells identify infected cells in order to destroy them. A human body contains tens of thousands of HLAs and each individual has multiple HLA types, which are genetically inherited. Until now, research into HLA types and their relationship with the COVID-19 virus had been conducted mainly on people in Europe and the U.S., and it had remained unclear whether the memory T cells from past cold infections would reawaken T cells and trigger a "cross immunity" to kill the virus that causes COVID-19 and its variants.

Japan's low COVID-19 death rate may be due to genetics, top research institute says

Most Japanese have an inherited component of the immune system that can more effectively kill various coronaviruses, including the one that causes COVID-19, scientists say.

www.japantimes.co.jp

This was already suggested last year:

Japanese people have distinct HLA that confers immune resistance to CoV2.

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on disease susceptibility show that HLA is usually the top locus associated with disease. This is true for infectious diseases, autoimmunity, or neurological disorders. HLA stands for human leukocyte antigen and is also known as MHC, or major histocompatibility complex. These genes encode for proteins that present antigenic peptides to T cells. HLA class I presents antigenic peptides to CD8 T cells, while HLA class II presents peptides to CD4 T cells. HLA genes are the most highly polymorphic genes in the human genome. The variety in HLA enables our immune system to survey for maximal number of antigen peptides that are present in pathogens, so as to elicit robust cellular immune responses. Previous studies have identified HLA‐B*4601 to be associated with higher risk of developing SARS disease (Lin et al, 2003), based on a small number of cases. However, whether there are any HLA alleles that confer resistance to COVID‐19 and whether the allele frequency is higher in the Japanese population are unknown.

Why does Japan have so few cases of COVID‐19? - PMC

The COVID‐19 pandemic has spread to many countries around the world, but the infection and death rates vary widely. One country that appeared to have kept the infection under control despite limited societal restrictions is Japan. This commentary ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[thomas]

Oh, and some other good news: the flu has all but disappeared because of the ongoing Covid-19 prevention measures. Sort of.

According to the health ministry, the estimated number of flu patients between September 2020 and February this year stood at around 14,000, far below the usual levels of 10 million to 20 million. The 2020-2021 figure compares to around 7,285,000 patients in the winter of 2019-2020, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the ministry, which receives flu reports from about 5,000 medical institutions across the country, there were only 189 reported flu cases between Sept. 6 and Dec. 5 this year, even fewer than the 263 cases reported a year before.

Article expired

News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (08-14 Dec 2021)

Nationwide infections:

08/12 (Wed)	09/12 (Thu)	10/12 (Fri)	11/12 (Sat)	12/12 (Son)	13/12 (Mon)	14/12 (Tue)
136 (+ 15)​	165 (+ 38)​	146 (+ 1)​	149 (+ 18)​	120 (+ 5)​	79 (+ 19)​	144 (+ 29)​

Nationwide deaths:

08/12 (Wed)	09/12 (Thu)	10/12 (Fri)	11/12 (Sat)	12/12 (Son)	13/12 (Mon)	14/12 (Tue)
3 (+ 2)​	1 (± 0)​	1 (± 0)​	1 (+ 1)​	0 (± 0)​	1 (± 0)​	1 (- 1)​

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

08/12 (Wed)	09/12 (Thu)	10/12 (Fri)	11/12 (Sat)	12/12 (Son)	13/12 (Mon)	14/12 (Tue)
27 (- 16)​	26 (- 12)​	27 (- 5)​	25 (- 3)​	25 (- 4)​	26 (- 3)​	27 (- 1)​

Vaccinations as of 11 December 2021:

198.5m (+ 0.5m); fully vaccinated: 98.2m (+ 0.4m) = 78.0% of population

 

[thomas]

Yesterday, the first "domestic" omicron patient was confirmed. So far, 33 omicron cases have been reported in Japan.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a Dec. 16 press conference that an individual who had been in close contact with the person infected with omicron and who'd arrived from overseas on Dec. 8 also tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 15. It is unknown whether the individual also has the omicron variant. Both people are now in isolation at a medical facility. The individual apparently went to see the semifinal match of Japanese soccer's Emperor's Cup at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo on Dec. 12.

Tokyo confirms 1st omicron variant case outside airport - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- A person in the Japanese capital has been confirmed infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus, it was learned on Dec. 16. It is th

mainichi.jp

Article expired

News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More

www.japantimes.co.jp

The Ministry of Health has approved Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for a booster shot.

Japan began administering booster shots on Dec. 1, starting with health care workers. Moderna's shot is set to be allocated to a workplace vaccination program starting around March. Studies have shown that, unlike Pfizer's vaccine, a Moderna booster containing only half the dosage of each of the first two shots is needed to beef up immunity. It is also expected to have a low rate of side effects such as myocarditis, according to the U.K. Health Security Agency. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said the government plans to allow booster shots to be administered six months after the second shot whenever possible — a reduced timeline from the current plan of eight months.

Health ministry formally approves Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for a booster shot

The government plans to allow booster shots six months after the second shot whenever possible — a reduced timeline from the current plan of eight months.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[thomas]

Okinawa has reported its first case of local Omicron infection. The case seems to be related to a US base.

Prefectural government officials requested that those individuals be tested for the Omicron variant to determine if a causal relationship exists. U.S. military officials have refused to cooperate with the prefectural government. The infected resident, a man in his 50s, worked at Camp Hansen in Kin, Okinawa Prefecture, and lived in Uruma. Prefectural government authorities believe that at least 10 individuals were in close contact with the patient, including family members and work colleagues. Officials are conducting genome analysis because they suspect a woman in her 50s and a male in his 60s who was in close contact with her also may be infected with the Omicron variant.

Okinawa fears link between 1st Omicron case and base cluster | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

Meanwhile, experts have warned that the community spread of Omicron is already happening in Japan.

According to the health ministry, a total of 50 cases of infection with the omicron variant have been confirmed within Japan, including cases detected at airport quarantine stations. On Dec. 17 alone, 14 omicron infections were confirmed. Japan announced its first omicron case on Nov. 30, following the infection of a Namibian diplomat in his 30s who entered Japan from Namibia. A series of omicron infections have been subsequently confirmed among individuals who entered Japan after departing from African countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique, as well as the United States, Italy, Peru and elsewhere. There have also been a considerable number of cases where individuals have been confirmed infected in settings other than inspections conducted when they enter the country. A Gifu prefectural resident in his 40s that had been aboard the same flight as a man in his 50s, who tested positive for COVID-19 during airport quarantine inspections, was also confirmed to have been infected with omicron on Dec. 11.

Experts sound alarm over omicron as border control measures near limit in Japan - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- As infections with the coronavirus omicron variant are being reported across Japan, the country's first case that could pose a high risk of c

mainichi.jp

 

[thomas]

Here are the weekly updates (15-21 Dec 2021):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]15/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]16/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]17/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]18/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]19/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]20/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]21/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

175 (+ 39)​

[/TD]

[TD]

190 (+ 25)​

[/TD]

[TD]

183 (+ 37)​

[/TD]

[TD]

202 (+ 53)​

[/TD]

[TD]

177 (+ 57)​

[/TD]

[TD]

151 (+ 72)​

[/TD]

[TD]

249 (+ 105)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]15/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]16/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]17/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]18/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]19/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]20/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]21/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

1 (- 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (+ 1)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]15/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]16/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]17/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]18/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]19/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]20/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]21/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

27 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

26 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

26 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 2)​

[/TD]

[TD]

27 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

28 (+ 1)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Vaccinations as of 19 December 2021:

199m (+ 0.5m); fully vaccinated: 98.3m (+ 0.1m) = 78.1% of population

 

[thomas]

A few updates on the Covid-19 front:

Japan has approved the COVID-19 antiviral pill developed by Merck and plans plan to roll out new treatments by year-end as concerns rise about the Omicron variant.

Japan is betting heavily on oral treatments to keep serious infections and deaths at bay should a feared sixth wave of the pandemic emerge. The government agreed last month to pay Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics about $1.2 billion for 1.6 million courses of their drug molnupiravir. In addition, Kishida announced last week a deal to procure 2 million doses of a separate antiviral pill developed by Pfizer Inc. And Japan's Shionogi & Co is expected to soon file for approval of its own treatment, supplying another 1 million doses by early next year.

Japan health panel approves Merck’s oral COVID-19 treatment | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

Slight uptick in the cases reported in Tokyo and the fourth local (and untraceable) case of Omicron, this time in Fukuoka.

COVID-19 cases up in Tokyo; Omicron scare in Fukuoka | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

www.asahi.com

 

[thomas]

The weekly updates (22-28 Dec 2021):

Nationwide infections:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]22/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]23/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]24/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]25/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]26/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]27/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]28/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

262 (+ 87)​

[/TD]

[TD]

295 (+ 105)​

[/TD]

[TD]

302 (+ 119)​

[/TD]

[TD]

322 (+ 120)​

[/TD]

[TD]

263 (+ 86)​

[/TD]

[TD]

214 (+ 63)​

[/TD]

[TD]

387 (+ 138)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide deaths:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]22/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]23/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]24/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]25/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]26/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]27/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]28/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

2 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

1 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (± 0)​

[/TD]

[TD]

0 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

2 (± 0)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Nationwide Seriously Ill:

[TABLE=full]
[TR]
[TH]22/12 (Wed)[/TH]
[TH]23/12 (Thu)[/TH]
[TH]24/12 (Fri)[/TH]
[TH]25/12 (Sat)[/TH]
[TH]26/12 (Son)[/TH]
[TH]27/12 (Mon)[/TH]
[TH]28/12 (Tue)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]

26 (- 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

28 (+ 1)​

[/TD]

[TD]

34 (+ 8)​

[/TD]

[TD]

37 (+ 9)​

[/TD]

[TD]

38 (+ 11)​

[/TD]

[TD]

44 (+ 17)​

[/TD]

[TD]

46 (+ 18)​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Vaccinations as of 26 December 2021:

199m ; fully vaccinated: 98.6m (+ 0.3m) = 78.3% of population

 

[johnnyG]

199m ; fully vaccinated: 98.6m (+ 0.3m) = 78.3% of population

Might have to add a line or something to that for boosters.

I got my second shot June 19th, so it's been six months. I think a voucher will come at some point, perhaps for a shot in late Jan/early Feb?

And I'm just tabling that, it's a data point, not a complaint. In spite of the uptick in numbers, above, I feel safe.

 

[thomas]

I haven't seen any official stats on the boosters yet. I will certainly add them once more data becomes available.

I am not worried either, but it is evident that infections are again increasing. I might start adding prefecture-specific data soon.