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Abe says gov't will announce more measures on March 10 to counter virus

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Good BLOODY luck!!!!

I am not holding my breath, the cat is out of the bag, sadly Japan made major mistakes in the early days, time will tell how much the costs are, so far they are high economically, expect personal costs to start to spiral!

Hope I am wrong though......

14 ( +18 / -4 )

This reminds me of when the nightly news commercials came on in the US. "Tune in tonight at 10pm to find out how to save your life."

We have measures in place to help prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the financial hit on the economy. Tune in on March 10th to find out what you have to do.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Just a few thoughts....

I would forget about the peeps from the vessel.

940 nationwide cases minus 705 from the vessel leaves only 235 people as of this week.

That's not too bad. Hokkaido is a bit worrisome but that is probably because people were inside due to the cold and in closer contact than in warmer places.

Let's see how many we have next week.

If the number goes down that is good.

I hope everyone will be okay.

I remain optimistic.

It will be interesting to see Sumo with no fans.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

haha ... needs some time to think them up!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Apparently minimal community spread in affected hot countries - Singapore, Philippines, Thailand - is a good indicator for the spring.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-29/u-s-surgeon-general-urges-people-to-stop-buying-masks

The the US Surgeon General himself states that wearing a mask will not prevent you from Catching the Coronavirus. He also stated that washing your hands is the best way to prevent infection

17 ( +18 / -1 )

But I am sure there are readers who will accuse him of having a political agenda

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

That's in 8 days... thank you anyway..?

Meanwhile... i am already on suspended work... thank you anyway? Good, my company is a public one... i still got 90% of my pay.

Oh... don't forget to wear a mask... i heard you don't get the virus if you use one.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

In a week? In the same timeframe, the infections in China had multiplied 100 folds.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Abe please ask the US and China on more of what’s really going on..

https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/globalnews.ca/news/6515020/china-scientists-drug-coronavirus/amp/

Scientists in the city at the centre of China’s virus outbreak have applied to patent a drug made by U.S. company Gilead Science Inc. to treat the disease, possibly fueling conflict over technology policy that helped trigger Washington’s tariff war with Beijing.

The government-run Wuhan Institute of Virology said this week it applied for the patent in January along with a military laboratory. An institute statement acknowledged there are “intellectual property barriers” but said it acted to “protect national interests.”

Granting its own scientists a patent might give the Chinese government leverage in negotiations over paying for the drug. But it also might fuel complaints Beijing abuses its regulatory system to pressure foreign companies to hand over valuable technology.

On Thursday, the official Xinhua News Agency said clinical trials of the drug, remdesivir, were due to start.

Gilead, headquartered in Foster City, California, said it applied in 2016 for a Chinese patent on use of remdesivir against coronaviruses and is waiting for a decision. The coronavirus family includes the novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, blamed for the outbreak in Wuhan.

“Gilead has no influence over whether a patent office issues a patent to the Chinese researchers,” said a company spokesman, Ryan McKeel. “Their application has been filed more than three years after Gilead’s filing and will be considered in view of what is already known about the compound and pending patent applications.”

The institute said its application was filed Jan. 21. Two days later, Chinese authorities suspended most access to Wuhan, a city of 11 million people. That lockdown has expanded to surrounding cities and some in other provinces, isolating a total of about 60 million people in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed.

China has the right under World Trade Organization rules to declare an emergency and compel a company to license a patent to protect the public. It would be required to pay a license fee that is deemed fair market value.

The government might be able to avoid that fee if the patent were granted to the Wuhan institute, part of the elite Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The institute said it applied for a “use patent” that specifies the Wuhan virus as the drug’s target. Gilead’s patent application, filed before the virus was identified, cites only the overall family of coronaviruses.

The Chinese researchers made their patent application “from the perspective of protecting national interests,” said the institute statement.

“If relevant foreign companies plan to contribute to China’s epidemic prevention and control, we both agree that if the state needs it, we will not require enforcement of rights given by the patent,” it said.

Gillead said last week it was working with U.S. and Chinese health authorities on studying remdesivir. The company said it has provided the drug for emergency use in a small number of patients with the Wuhan virus “in the absence of any approved treatment options.”

Remdesivir was used to treat the first U.S. patient with the new virus by doctors at a hospital north of Seattle. A detailed report on the patient’s symptoms and treatment was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The man has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, but it’s not clear whether the Gilead drug helped him or not.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Officially, 250 infected, maybe 5 times more in reality.

I keep on my mind , we are still in the phase of overreaction, overreacting measures , irrational.

250 / 128 000 000 = 0.00000195

0.000195% infected

3 ( +10 / -7 )

I wonder what those measures will be...? My daughter and I are supposed to go to the US at the end of March and I'm unsure whether or not to cancel...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

March 10? Why so soon? I hope Abe doesn't stress himself out too much over the next week. In the meantime we will go just have to go on with our lives as usual I guess.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Mr Abe, please listen to real experts' view for policy implementation this time. With update info and analysis including an official WHO report, primary endangered groups are elderly (70-80s), NOT schoolchildren. Most confirmed transmission cases or "clusters" are located at workplace or indoor public gatherings, NOT at school. The cases of kids getting infected happened at home, NOT at school. No kid-to-kid, kid-to-adult transmission has been confirmed.

The decision of nationwide school shutdown seems futile. It was made unilaterally without evidence, without consent with experts, not even coming from discussions at the committee.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@Wellington

Just a few thoughts....

I would forget about the peeps from the vessel.

940 nationwide cases minus 705 from the vessel leaves only 235 people as of this week.

That's not too bad. Hokkaido is a bit worrisome but that is probably because people were inside due to the cold and in closer contact than in warmer places.

Do you know how many people have been tested?

Here in Japan they have a testing capacity of only 4,000 per day, but daily tested numbers hardly approach even a third of that. Sometimes, a quarter. There very little general testing going on. If they tested even a fraction of those who should be tested, then there is no doubt numbers would go up. This is all over the Japanese media now. People are fed up with this government's excuses. Look to Italy/Korea for a hint of how the actual numbers should be in Japan.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Savethegaijin,the US will probably put travel restrictions on Japan, if their is an increase in Japanese infected

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Precisely, they're supressing the numbers intentionally due to their enormous fear of losing the Olympics (it's not even the economic impact or the tourism loss at this point, it's all about the Olympics). Although I'm in two minds about this, because if they announce same numbers as in Korea/Italy and get IOC to cancel the Olympics this very week, what will then happen come summer when it turns out the virus has perished like flu in the beginning of spring? Then we risk having no virus and no Olympics at the same time, and this can't be reversed. Sadly, IOC wouldn't wait until it gets to warm to "see how things will go like", so as long as their menace is over Abe's head, he's unlikely to proceed with mass testings.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Many are accusing Japan of deliberately keeping the "infected case" numbers low by not testing enough. That would suggest that there are many more infected people walking around. But there are only 6 or 7 COVID19 deaths in Japan. I would have thought that if in fact there were many more infected people then the death rate would also be higher. No?

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Ossan stop. You are making too much sense for the talking heads here who are clamoring for a conspiracy from the gov't.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

If people are dying without being tested then the numbers aren’t reported.

Japan has limited testing capability so it would be reasonable to suggest that infected people are not being tested.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

If Japan was heavily under testing or under reporting of possible cases, why haven't the deaths from the virus increased dramatically ? As you can see in the case of Korea and Italy now. Or is it just a matter of time? Btw I dont see many people coughing on my daily commutes ,which makes me to think infection is not a pandemic here yet. I might be wrong..

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

@oji-sanAmerica

Many are accusing Japan of deliberately keeping the "infected case" numbers low by not testing enough. That would suggest that there are many more infected people walking around. But there are only 6 or 7 COVID19 deaths in Japan. I would have thought that if in fact there were many more infected people then the death rate would also be higher. No?

Well, no. You'd die of pneumonia, or something else wouldn't you? Because you wouldn't have been tested.

Clear?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Next step will be a temporary lock down the country. Joke.

What he really will announce is that Bank of Japan (BOJ) will be printing more money 24/7 which will be pumped into the economy as a stimulus for businesses that were affected by coronavirus.

I guess what government doesn't realise that even if they will do that and let's say outbreak will be gone in April. Tourists won't come back right away and that Olympics are doomed anyway. NO ROI! It's over Japan but also I guess it's over for word economy.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Also, is it keep left or keep right?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

here is one fact for you all to ponder: (from Wiki)

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89pid%C3%A9mie_demaladie%C3%A0_coronavirus_de_2019-2020#Province_du_Hubei

1st death in Wuhan from the virus Jan 9th

2nd death in Wuhan from the virus Jan 16th

City lockdown Jan 23rd (2 WEEKS after the 2nd death)

1st death in Japan Feb 13th

2nd death in Japan Feb ?? can't find exactly but its been more than 1 week for sure

-- the Chinese have responded quicker to the virus than here. given how quickly the virus spreads, I think unfortunately that the situation will become worse than in Wuhan and the longer we wait the worse it will be.

Given the exponential growth of the virus, one week of waiting means one more 0 in the numbers of cases and victims.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why bother waiting, there is an existing current problem RIGHT NOW. Why does Japan continue to use this outdated system aside as a tool for total CONTROL and Oppression of those living in Japan.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@ OssanAmerica

When that first elderly Japanese couple died, Minister of Health Kato announced (as reported), that the women had died of the Corona virus and her husband of pneumonia.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

-- the Chinese have responded quicker to the virus than here. given how quickly the virus spreads, I think unfortunately that the situation will become worse than in Wuhan and the longer we wait the worse it will be.

Given the exponential growth of the virus, one week of waiting means one more 0 in the numbers of cases and victims.

Japan has a more modern medical infrastructure than China, I have more faith in the Japanese to control the outbreak than the Chinese had.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Give us helicopter money like they're doing in Hong Kong. ¥100,000 into every bank account.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

One thing Abe hasn't done yet is tell us who is giving him medical advice. Especially at Saturday night's press conference, he should a couple of doctors or specialists with him at the podium and they could have answered questions from reporters. Even Trump had enough sense to have medical experts with him at his press conference.

By going it alone, Abe's call to close schools and postpone events sounds more like a political decision than a medical one. And I know there are a lot of medical professionals who disagreed with his actions.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The government will take sufficient steps including helping small- and medium-sized firms cope with any financial shortfalls by tapping its 270 billion yen in budget reserves, Abe told parliament.

Why do I get the feeling that friends & business partners of Abe and other top officials will suffer from "financial shortfalls" as a result of COVID-19.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tremendous. Announce how we should deal with the emergency more than a week after it begins.

Lots of well-paid meetings to be had for a legion of committees and thinktanks first - can't bleed the people dry when they're all sick. Gotta get that cash before the trough runs dry.

Whatever would we do without our great leader?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The the US Surgeon General himself states that wearing a mask will not prevent you from Catching the Coronavirus

Of course lol, since it's not designed for that. But it will protect others from being infected. If everyone is wearing masks, risk of infection will go down for everyone =)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A WEEK!!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They are suppressing the numbers lol. So they are suppressing the number of cases by not testing. And then what do they do with the supposedly dead, burn them secretly? How are they suppressing this info about severe cases and deaths that should be mounting uncontrollanly if indeed they are just being ignored

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The virus will be gone by the 10th lol

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Amazon Japan told me today that all incoming shipments are sanitized. You believe that?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

They are suppressing the numbers lol. So they are suppressing the number of cases by not testing. And then what do they do with the supposedly dead, burn them secretly?

Huh? Non-tested person dies. Recorded as pneumonia, or some other respiratory disease, which best matches the cause of death, as determined by the coroner.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

SUUURE, on the Eve of 3/11 the government will announce new measures for another disaster. while people praying for the victims of the earthquake, Mr Abe will announce new depressing measures.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I recommend common sense when preparing or be prepared for the worst; for example a 30 day home quarantine. Ensure plenty of food, basic necessities, things that one will not need to get to the store unless necessary or last resort, not panic but rather common sense to be prepared vs unprepared. Mass media, so called experts and idiots will post no need to panic. To these I say I have 1 life that's it and I like it, so there is no way I would take my own life for granted and risk it to a highly contagious or place others in harm.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The following from the Asahi Digital provides an informative and regularly updated timeline of Covid-19 developments dating to Dec. 29 of last year: まとめ】首相「換気悪い密集空間を避けて」(1日)

Japan's first fatality was reported Feb. 13, it's second and third on the 20th.

The initial outbreak in Hokkaido has been traced to this year's Sapporo Snow Festival.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

March 10 ? Sadly slow.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan cannot build two hospital in two weeks as China did

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Translation = we will see how fubar thing are and spin things as much as possible to try and hold on to the Olympics and Abe’s leadership at the risk of us commoners. History repeats itself. If you eat out for any meal these days in my opinion your a fool and I own a bar/restaurant which is now closed until further notice due to......., doing the right thing and putting money second on my priority list and no I ain’t minted in anyway Shape or form, it’s called integrity!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Even if the numbers are under reported does it really make sense to ground the ecomony to a halt for 100 or even a 1000 deaths?

A lot of people die on the roads but we haven't banned driving.

It s the aids panic all over again.

The world has gone crazy led by politicians out to score points and media click bait.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

March 10 ? Sadly slow.

I don't know, the Chinese managed to cover it up for a lot longer than that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Even if the numbers are under reported does it really make sense to ground the ecomony to a halt for 100 or even a 1000 deaths?

I think you should talk with this person/entity who has decided to ground the economy, and ask them to stop.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In a week?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Strangerland

I think you should talk with this person/entity who has decided to ground the economy, and ask them to stop.

The meaning of grind to a halt

Ground past tense of gring

To oppress or weaken gradually or persistently: "Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law" (Oliver Goldsmith).

P.M Abe's over reactive policies are responsible for the economy grinding to a halt.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even if the numbers are under reported does it really make sense to ground the ecomony to a halt for 100 or even a 1000 deaths?

If it was to stop at just 1000 deaths, then you're right that it makes no sense, but the numbers won't stop there, they will grow exponentially if it isn't checked, especially due to the long incubation period.

I saw one estimate that approx 40% of humanity could be eventually infected and if there is a 2% death rate there that means 0.8% of the population would die. That would translate to approximately 1 million deaths in Japan. That's why it is so important to take measures to keep it from spreading until vaccines and effective treatments can be prepared.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hi, It's March 11 here in the future.

Take a guess what Abe announced on March 10th as his next move.

Spoiler alert*****it was a complete waste of everyone's time and helped out no one!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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