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COVID-19 Coronavirus: situation in Japan

The corona infection in Japan has few Tohoku districts, and there are many Kansai and Okinawa.
Are you related with the natto consumption according to the metropolis and districts?:unsure:
 
Here are the weekly updates (27 Oct - 02 Nov 2021): a sprinkle of red, but it only reflects marginal fluctuation. All numbers are one or two digits!


Nationwide infections:

27/10 (Wed)28/10 (Thu)29/10 (Fri)30/10 (Sat)31/10 (Son)01/11 (Mon)02/11 (Tue)
312 (- 79)
274 (- 71)
292 (- 33)
287 (+ 2)
229 (- 7)
86 (- 67)
221 (- 93)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

27/10 (Wed)28/10 (Thu)29/10 (Fri)30/10 (Sat)31/10 (Son)01/11 (Mon)02/11 (Tue)
14 (- 11) - 184 (- 92)
7 (- 4) - 177 (- 83)
9 (- 7) - 145 (- 72)
16 (+ 6) - 134 (- 74)
8 (+- 0) - 124 (- 84)
7 (- 1) - 122 (- 80)
7 (- 1) - 120 (- 77)

Infections in selected prefectures:

27/10 (Wed)28/10 (Thu)29/10 (Fri)30/10 (Sat)31/10 (Son)01/11 (Mon)02/11 (Tue)
Aichi
20 (- 6)
23 (+ 1)
21 (- 15)
18 (- 4)
12 (- 6)
5 (- 4)
10 (- 25)
Chiba
8 (- 5)
10 (- 11)
7 (+ 2)
13 (+- 0)​
3 (+ 1)
3 (+- 0)​
17 (+ 6)
Fukuoka
9 (- 6)
5 (- 6)
12 (+ 4)
17 (+ 9)
10 (+ 6)
7 (- 1)
5 (+ 4)
Hokkaido
9 (- 5)
5 (- 6)
8 (- 7)
8 (+ 3)
11 (- 7)
3 (+ 2)
14 (+ 1)
Hyogo
18 (- 7)
20 (- 9)
23 (- 3)
19 (- 6)
12 (- 5)
2 (- 17)
11 (- 24)
Kanagawa
15 (- 1)
16 (- 23)
8 (- 16)
7 (- 2)
10 (- 1)
6 (- 1)
10 (- 3)
Okinawa
18 (- 2)
9 (- 9)
6 (- 8)
11 (+ 2)
2 (- 11)
1 (- 4)
11 (- 1)
Osaka
66 (- 7)
61 (+ 19)
52 (+ 1)
49 (+ 3)
45 (+ 7)
7 (- 19)
36 (- 15)
Saitama
15 (+ 2)
15 (+ 4)
12 (- 5)
13 (- 5)
12 (+ 6)
3 (+- 0)​
7 (- 1)
Tokyo
36 (- 5)
21 (- 15)
24 (- 2)
23 (- 9)
22 (+ 3)
9 (- 8)
18 (- 11)

Vaccinations as of 1 November 2021:

190m (+ 4m); fully vaccinated: 91.8m (+ 3m) = 72.9% of population

 
Yesterday, Japan approved a COVID-19 antibody cocktail, the first treatment in Japan authorized for people who have not developed COVID-19 symptoms.

A monoclonal "antibody cocktail" drug developed by U.S. firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. obtained fast-track approval from the Japanese health ministry on Friday for use as a post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the spread of the coronavrius within households and for the treatment of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Ronapreve, which is composed of the artificially produced antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab, was also given approval to be administered by subcutaneous injection, in addition to the intravenous injection that was already authorized, to provide flexibility in how the drug is given to match each patient's needs. The approvals came a day after the ministry's expert panel backed the treatment and mark the country's first OK for a COVID-related drug to be used for prophylactic purposes, aside from the COVID-19 vaccines. A global final stage clinical study assessing the efficacy and safety of Ronapreve in preventing symptomatic infection in household contacts showed that the drug reduced the risk by 81.4% in those who were not infected when they entered the trial.


Ronapreve combines two neutralizing antibodies that prevent the novel coronavirus from entering cells. Recipients who have not developed symptoms must have a high risk of becoming seriously ill due to obesity or other underlying conditions. They also must have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have been unable to build up enough immunity against the virus through inoculation. Ronapreve reduced the risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms by 81 percent among those who have come into close contact with patients in a clinical trial conducted in the United States and other countries, according to Chugai Pharmaceutical.


This sounds painful, though:

"When administered subcutaneously, Ronapreve needs to be injected into four sites under the skin on the recipient's stomach, thighs and upper arms. The ministry will recommend the drug be given intravenously to treat patients with symptoms."

😖
 
Yesterday, Japan approved a COVID-19 antibody cocktail, the first treatment in Japan authorized for people who have not developed COVID-19 symptoms.







This sounds painful, though:

"When administered subcutaneously, Ronapreve needs to be injected into four sites under the skin on the recipient's stomach, thighs and upper arms. The ministry will recommend the drug be given intravenously to treat patients with symptoms."

😖
Pfizer has developed an antiviral pill which could be a game changer.

(Reuters) -Pfizer Inc's experimental antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 cut by 89% the chance of hospitalization or death for adults at risk of severe disease, the company said on Friday, as its CEO vowed to make this promising new weapon in the fight against the pandemic available globally as quickly as possible.
 
Finding someone with the booster shot here in Maine is a pain. Even my doctor's office couldn't get the vaccine. I searched about 10 locations till I found a local grocery store with what I needed. Get my booster next Wednesday. 80% of adults & children here in Maine have been vaccinated but we still have a ton of people getting sick , almost like back when it all started.

v12.jpg
 
And more good news: yesterday, Sunday, was the first day without any Covid-related fatalities in some 15 months.

The country reported a total of 162 new cases of the deadly virus the same day, while the nationwide number of severely ill COVID-19 patients stood at 100, unchanged from Saturday. In the capital, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 21 new infections Sunday, down by one from a week earlier as the daily tally remained below 30 for the 11th consecutive day. The seven-day average of new cases, meanwhile, stood at 20.1 in Tokyo, down from 24.6 a week before. The number of COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms under the metropolitan government's standards was unchanged from Saturday at 12. Osaka Prefecture, one of the hardest-hit areas, reported 39 new cases of the virus.

 
The weekly updates (3-9 Nov 2021):


Nationwide infections:

03/11 (Wed)04/11 (Thu)05/11 (Fri)06/11 (Sat)07/11 (Son)08/11 (Mon)09/11 (Tue)
265 (- 47)
158 (- 116)
225 (- 67)
241 (- 46)
162 (- 67)
107 (+ 21)
204 (- 17)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

03/11 (Wed)04/11 (Thu)05/11 (Fri)06/11 (Sat)07/11 (Son)08/11 (Mon)09/11 (Tue)
7 (- 7) - 115 (- 69)
8 (+ 1) - 109 (- 68)
6 (- 3) - 103 (- 42)
10 (- 6) - 100 (- 34)
3 (+ 3) - 100 (- 24)
1 (- 6) - 101 (- 21)
3 (- 4) - 99 (- 21)

Infections in selected prefectures:

03/11 (Wed)04/11 (Thu)05/11 (Fri)06/11 (Sat)07/11 (Son)08/11 (Mon)09/11 (Tue)
Aichi
22 (+ 2)
1 (- 22)
15 (- 6)
12 (- 6)
16 (+ 4)
4 (- 1)
5 (- 5)
Chiba
13 (+ 5)
5 (- 5)
7 (+- 0)​
10 (- 3)
3 (+- 0)​
4 (+ 1)
9 (- 8)
Fukuoka
5 (- 4)
9 (+ 4)
6 (- 6)
6 (- 11)
2 (- 8)
2 (- 5)
4 (- 1)
Hokkaido
13 (+ 4)
4 (- 1)
13 (+ 5)
13 (+ 5)
10 (- 1)
6 (+ 3)
13 (- 1)
Hyogo
25 (+ 7)
11 (- 9)
17 (- 6)
23 (+ 4)
2 (- 10)
5 (+ 3)
16 (+ 5)
Kanagawa
7 (- 8)
22 (+ 6)
9 (+ 1)
14 (+ 7)
9 (- 1)
11 (+ 5)
12 (+ 2)
Okinawa
6 (- 12)
8 (- 1)
15 (+ 9)
3 (- 8)
4 (+ 2)
2 (+ 1)
4 (- 7)
Osaka
53 (- 13)
20 (- 41)
32 (- 20)
39 (- 10)
39 (- 6)
15 (+ 8)
28 (- 8)
Saitama
7 (- 8)
6 (- 9)
10 (- 2)
6 (- 7)
2 (- 10)
3 (+- 0)​
14 (+ 7)
Tokyo
25 (- 11)
14 (- 7)
25 (+ 1)
29 (+ 6)
21 (- 1)
18 (+ 9)
30 (+ 12)

Vaccinations as of 8 November 2021:

193m (+ 3m); fully vaccinated: 93.8m (+ 2m) = 74.5% of population

 
For the population in Tokyo the infection rate looks like Japan is getting back to the pre-covid of enjoying ones life.
 
The findings are not surprising; however, Asahi called the research paper published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science a 'bombshell study': based on COVID-19 antibody estimates, the institute concluded that the number of Covid-19 infections in Tokyo might be close to four times as high as the official figure given out by the metropolitan government.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science's study up until March this year found that close to half a million residents in the capital may have COVID-19, but never turned up in official counts because they showed no symptoms. The study looked at 23,234 individuals who underwent outpatient care at 14 hospitals in the capital between September 2020 and March 2021. After gaining the consent of the individuals, a check was made for the presence of the COVID-19 antibody which would indicate whether the individual had been infected. The study found that 3.4 percent of the test subjects had the antibody. Because those who had run fevers or been vaccinated were excluded from the study, the figure represents the ratio of those who were likely infected with the virus but had no tell-tale symptoms. Taking Tokyo's population of about 14 million into account, the ratio suggests that around 470,000 residents might have been infected without showing any symptoms.

 
The findings are not surprising; however, Asahi called the research paper published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science a 'bombshell study': based on COVID-19 antibody estimates, the institute concluded that the number of Covid-19 infections in Tokyo might be close to four times as high as the official figure given out by the metropolitan government.



We probably don't know since many maybe asymptomatic also.
 
We probably don't know since many maybe asymptomatic also.

Yes, that's exactly what the study tried to establish: factoring in the asymptomatic, the actual number of infections may have been fourfold the official numbers.
 
Well, anyway, I'm beginning to see less stress in the peoples eyes recently especially in the grocery stores. I'm also glad we can travel freely. I just wonder how long it will be before the mask come off.
 
I think one of the most important things now to follow is how many are in the hospital and also keep track of the seasonal FLU which does seem to have disappeared recently around the world also.
 
Japan will start administering booster shots on 1 December. Individuals aged 18 and older will be eligible for the booster shots, and those with preexisting conditions or working in high-risk professions will be especially encouraged to get them.

The vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE will initially be the only one used for the third doses, meaning individuals who have received either of the other two types used in Japan - Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc. - will need to "mix and match." The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare panel also said individuals will in principle need to wait eight months between their second and third shots, though local governments can shorten the interval to six months if they deem it necessary, for example to curb an ongoing surge in infections.

 
"...individuals will in principle need to wait eight months between their second and third shots..."

For me, eight months to the day will be Feb. 19th--will try to keep that in mind.
 
Yes, things are going very well at the moment. I'm able to go out and enjoy myself again, and despite the low number of cases, most people are being sensible, wearing masks, and disinfecting themselves when they enter shops.

The Guardian had an article on Japan's remarkable recovery yesterday:

Media hype over scares involving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the 1990s and, more recently, with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, helped turn Japan into one of the least vaccine-confident countries in the world, according to a 2020 Lancet study. Less than 30% of people were confident that vaccines were safe, compared with at least 50% of Americans, the study said. A February poll by the Kyodo news agency found that 27.4% of respondents said they did not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19. But data provided by the prime minister's office shows high Covid-19 vaccination rates across all age groups. More than 92% of people in their 70s have been double jabbed, along with almost 70% of those in their 30s.

 
The weekly updates (10-16 Nov 2021):


Nationwide infections:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
205 (- 60)
216 (+ 58)
201 (- 24)
202 (- 39)
134 (- 28)
79 (- 28)
154 (- 50)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
3 (- 4) - 96 (- 19)
2 (- 6) - 92 (- 17)
5 (- 1) - 87 (- 16)
0 (- 10) - 83 (- 17)
2 (- 1) - 85 (- 15)
2 (+ 1) - 85 (- 16)
0 (- 3) - 82 (- 17)

Infections in selected prefectures:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
Aichi
8 (- 14)
9 (+ 8)
18 (+ 3)
9 (- 3)
11 (- 5)
2 (- 2)
8 (+ 3)
Chiba
9 (- 4)
7 (+ 2)
9 (+ 2)
11 (+ 1)
5 (+ 2)
3 (- 1)
7 (- 2)
Fukuoka
7 (+ 2)
2 (- 7)
10 (+ 4)
5 (- 1)
9 (+ 7)
5 (+ 3)
5 (+ 1)
Hokkaido
8 (- 5)
8 (+ 4)
22 (+ 9)
19 (+ 6)
9 (- 1)
3 (- 3)
35 (+ 22)
Hyogo
15 (- 10)
4 (- 7)
10 (- 7)
16 (- 7)
7 (+ 5)
3 (- 2)
12 (- 4)
Kanagawa
14 (+ 7)
14 (- 8)
19 (+ 10)
15 (+ 1)
12 (+ 3)
18 (+ 7)
9 (- 3)
Okinawa
5 (- 1)
3 (- 5)
3 (- 12)
1 (- 2)
1 (- 3)
0 (- 2)
3 (- 1)
Osaka
26 (- 27)
64 (+ 44)
26 (- 6)
30 (- 9)
18 (- 21)
8 (- 7)
13 (- 15)
Saitama
17 (+ 10)
8 (+ 2)
9 (- 1)
10 (+ 4)
8 (+ 6)
11 (+ 8)
13 (- 1)
Tokyo
25 (+-0)​
31 (+ 17)
22 (-3)
24 (- 5)
22 (+ 1)
7 (- 11)
15 (- 15)

Vaccinations as of 15 November 2021:

195m (+ 2m); fully vaccinated: 95.5m (+ 1.7m) = 75.9% of population

 
The weekly updates (10-16 Nov 2021):


Nationwide infections:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
205 (- 60)
216 (+ 58)
201 (- 24)
202 (- 39)
134 (- 28)
79 (- 28)
154 (- 50)

Nationwide deaths - Seriously Ill:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
3 (- 4) - 96 (- 19)
2 (- 6) - 92 (- 17)
5 (- 1) - 87 (- 16)
0 (- 10) - 83 (- 17)
2 (- 1) - 85 (- 15)
2 (+ 1) - 85 (- 16)
0 (- 3) - 82 (- 17)

Infections in selected prefectures:

10/11 (Wed)11/11 (Thu)12/11 (Fri)13/11 (Sat)14/11 (Son)15/11 (Mon)16/11 (Tue)
Aichi
8 (- 14)
9 (+ 8)
18 (+ 3)
9 (- 3)
11 (- 5)
2 (- 2)
8 (+ 3)
Chiba
9 (- 4)
7 (+ 2)
9 (+ 2)
11 (+ 1)
5 (+ 2)
3 (- 1)
7 (- 2)
Fukuoka
7 (+ 2)
2 (- 7)
10 (+ 4)
5 (- 1)
9 (+ 7)
5 (+ 3)
5 (+ 1)
Hokkaido
8 (- 5)
8 (+ 4)
22 (+ 9)
19 (+ 6)
9 (- 1)
3 (- 3)
35 (+ 22)
Hyogo
15 (- 10)
4 (- 7)
10 (- 7)
16 (- 7)
7 (+ 5)
3 (- 2)
12 (- 4)
Kanagawa
14 (+ 7)
14 (- 8)
19 (+ 10)
15 (+ 1)
12 (+ 3)
18 (+ 7)
9 (- 3)
Okinawa
5 (- 1)
3 (- 5)
3 (- 12)
1 (- 2)
1 (- 3)
0 (- 2)
3 (- 1)
Osaka
26 (- 27)
64 (+ 44)
26 (- 6)
30 (- 9)
18 (- 21)
8 (- 7)
13 (- 15)
Saitama
17 (+ 10)
8 (+ 2)
9 (- 1)
10 (+ 4)
8 (+ 6)
11 (+ 8)
13 (- 1)
Tokyo
25 (+-0)​
31 (+ 17)
22 (-3)
24 (- 5)
22 (+ 1)
7 (- 11)
15 (- 15)

Vaccinations as of 15 November 2021:

195m (+ 2m); fully vaccinated: 95.5m (+ 1.7m) = 75.9% of population

As always, thanks for posting this stuff. Seems like the worst is behind us.
 
I'm predicting another wave over the winter (starting in Hokkaido, which had 40 cases yesterday) but judging from the sustained low figures at the moment and the high percentage of the population having vaccinations, it's not going to be a big one.
 
Hokkaido is back to 20 cases today in what looks like a temporary spike.

Meanwhile, some scholars speculate whether the disappearance of the delta variant could be a sign of self-extinction:

[...] the chief reason may be related to the genetic changes that the coronavirus undergoes during reproduction, at a pace of around two mutations per month. According to a potentially revolutionary theory proposed by Ituro Inoue, a professor at the National Institute of Genetics, the delta variant in Japan accumulated too many mutations to the virus's error-correcting, non-structural protein called nsp14. As a result, the virus struggled to repair the errors in time, ultimately leading to "self-destruction."



Today, the Ministry of Health announced a COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children aged 5 to 11 as early as February 2022.

Pfizer Inc. applied to the health ministry for use of its vaccines for children on Nov. 10, but permission has not been granted yet. The volume of active substances in Pfizer's vaccine for children is only a third of those for people aged 12 or older. The ministry asked those governments to ensure that vaccines for children and adults are handled separately. It maintained its policy of "not recommending" group vaccinations be given at schools because of peer pressure that could arise among students.

 
Meanwhile, some scholars speculate whether the disappearance of the delta variant could be a sign of self-extinction:
Has anybody checked the Nara deer?

New research from the US has shown that white-tailed deer are being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. Antibodies were found in 40% of deer that were tested from January to March 2021 across Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York state. A second unpublished study has detected the virus in 80% of deer sampled in Iowa between November 2020 and January 2021.
 
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