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Do you think the Japanese government should impose another state of emergency for all of Japan to try and contain the coronavirus, and if so, how should it be different from the last one that ended on May 25?

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Yubaru

You dont pay attention to news do you? Now nearly 60% of the people catching the virus are under the age of 40, with 20's to 30's being the largest group!

Sure, they "catch" it. Do they get sick from it?? You do realize that people "catch" viruses all the time, and their immune system deals with that, or is that news to you?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Absolutely not. Japan can do without this insanity. I see lots of barriers and shops and masks in the subway, all of which is fine with me. But we don´t need the overreach, Australia style. What is the death rate and the ICU situation anyway? We only hear about "cases", which is a meaningless number.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I would like to see them act more decisively but a state of emergency means nothing if after they reopen they are going to have to do it again in another couple of months.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Yubari wrote: "You dont pay attention to news do you? Now nearly 60% of the people catching the virus are under the age of 40, with 20's to 30's being the largest group. Cant have an "open" economy and get everyone sick in the process!" How many have died? How many are sick and in the hospital? Give me all the information before you advocate such a reckless non-solution.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I theory, yes. In reality, no. We need to work. Our lives depend upon it, the economy depends upon it, and our sanity depends upon it. Period. I mean, yes, take all necessary precautions, ie. wash your hands, wear a mask, stay away from the asinine gatherings of the hoi polloi. (キャバクラ) But for all intents and purposes, we need to get on with our llives.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

No!

Yeah, the number of infections is going up, but few are dying and probably most of the infected have mild or no symptoms.

This virus is not going away, so the only thing a lockdown would achieve is to delay herd immunity.

A vaccine is not coming soon, and a safe and effective one will likely never arrive.

Should we lock down forever, just because some people have a compromised immune system?

Let's get on with our lives; and if someone is immunocompromised or just scared, lock yourself down.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

NO! NO! NO! The economy cannot take it! The elderly and at risk can stay self-quarantine. The Corona is part of our lives now and we must accept that and move on. Our decades of prosperity has made us weak and cowardly.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

No, it would be pointless, and largely ignored. I need to work to earn money for my family. I would have to be at death's door NOT to go to work.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

They said it was all about "flattening the curve" and so if the hospitals can function with the current infection rate, I don't see any point in locking down. You're going to need some herd immunity to prevent future outbreaks, especially in the winter and if a vaccine isn't found in the near future. Protect the elderly and others with weak immune systems, wear a mask, social distance, but no lockdown. Its important for a healthy immune system to get fresh air, exercise and not stay locked inside all day.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They should not be ending everything. many companies which could allow workers to work from home immediately refused to allow for work from home or off-peak commute after the emergency order was lifted. Furthermore in-person meetings and workshops were immediately held.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Oh, get rid of hankos, faxes, and in-person meetings. Hire people to investigate large businesses and enforce work from home.

Many who lost their jobs could be hired through temporary contacts in the postal or shipping systems, by shops to enforce social distancing

2 ( +6 / -4 )

No.

Implement strict rules to protect the elderly and truly vulnerable. Let everyone else go about thier lives.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Is it possible that given enough support/clamor from citizenry, can they change the law / legislate a new one for declaring lockdowns in time to be of help in this current pandemic?

If ever there would be such support from the citizenry, then government wouldn't be needed for the lockdown.

The citizenry should never give up freedom, once any freedom is lost it will never be returned.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

No, goodness, no. As others have already said, a lockdown will ultimately do more harm than good, and people need to take some responsibility for looking after their health. Nothing wrong with wearing a mask in enclosed spaces, washing hands well and regularly, and voluntarily staying away from risky places is enough. We're not talking bubonic plague here, and people's general health and sanitation are far better than what they were like during the 1918 flu, partly exacerbated due to fatigue from fighting the war.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Yes. I’m not sure what specific measures should be taken, but we are clearly on the wrong course now and something needs to change.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, especially night life. Masks should be mandatory and social distancing strictly enforced. Also anyone who can work from home should, and those who have to work outside of the home should receive hazard pay.

But they do any of that won't so it doesn't matter.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

It seems clear now that the numbers will continue to rise under the current "normal" state of operations. Too many people either don't care, have no choice financially, are being forced by their boss, or are just plain fatigued. Then, at some point, cases will hit a critical mass that will leave the government to choice but to re-institute lockdowns.

The previous state of emergency got numbers down to double or even single digit cases in Tokyo. By that metric, it worked. It's no mystery how to combat the virus. Sad to say, post-Obon vacations I think we can be expecting a huge spike in cases nationwide. Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki had better be ready.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Tokyo estimated bed occupancy as of today is 64%

Yesterday it was 57%, the other day it was 52%

Lets see what happens next

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Be careful what you wish for.

Just occurred to me now that maybe that is the goal, to be able to declare a lockdown if necessary.

That means drumming up enough support / clamor for strict measures that changing the law would be warranted.

Question to those who have been here in Japan a long time, would it be possible? Of course the common sentiment here is that it takes forever for anything to happen but still, is it possible? Is it possible that given enough support/clamor from citizenry, can they change the law / legislate a new one for declaring lockdowns in time to be of help in this current pandemic?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If we have another lockdown, keep every outdoor place open. I live out in the sticks and couldn't even access nor enjoy the many beaches, rivers or mountains, which are expansive and allow for a lot of social distancing even during peak times. People need some kind of outlet and thsse are the safest places to be aside from your room.

Govt. should give a 30-50% discount to in-prefectural travellers to promote and help keep alive businesses during the lockdown.

(Maybe even charge more money to those travelling across prefectures as a disincentive.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes. I could use the days off from work, or at least working from home in comfort.

But, in reality, no. We're all going to get it some day. Might as well be now.

Thanks, Chinese government.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The state of emergency should be the same but much longer than the one that lasted to May 25th. With more restrictions host clubs, night clubs, pachinko palors, and events of more than 15 people. These should not even open or happen until at least a two consecutive months of 0 cases. Restaurants on a limited hour basis. If the economy is so important, a sacrifice needs to be made to solve the problem. Not wait and see let it get out of hand and try again, which wastes time, hurts the economy more, and will probably cost more lives especially in the lives of health workers who are on the front line of this virus.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It doesn't really matter how you call it. We won't have the kind of "lockdown" as other countries had because of the legal situation. And I don't think a full "lockdown" would be helpful either. It might again flatten the curve somewhat but current hospitalisation and mortality numbers indicate that is not really needed (for now) and could cause much more harm in other ways.

What is needed are:

mandatory mask wearing

much stricter policing of distance rules

control of late night establishments

more advice and practical guidance to businesses on how they can improve and update their work practices

Most importantly: do all this with conviction, decisiveness and, if necessary, force of the law to drive it home.

Will that happen? I doubt it :)

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

 Is it possible that given enough support/clamor from citizenry, can they change the law / legislate a new one for declaring lockdowns in time to be of help in this current pandemic?

"to be if help" is contentious so I'd like to change the wording to:

 Is it possible that given enough support/clamor from citizenry, can they change the law / legislate a new one for declaring lockdowns in time to be used in this current pandemic?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yes.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A state of emergency is useless in Japan. People are not fined or penalized for flouting rules. They should have imposed a lockdown back in March.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Sam WattersAug. 2 01:38 pm JST

NO! NO! NO! The economy cannot take it! The elderly and at risk can stay self-quarantine. The Corona is part of our lives now and we must accept that and move on. Our decades of prosperity has made us weak and cowardly.

Do you even realize that the elderly comprise over 1/3 of Japans workforce? Not even including the at risk?

So... 2/3 or a bit less continue working while the economy tanks around them for how long?

Versus... Oh I dunno... A plan of action including shutdowns? Which would allow for MORE of Japans actual workforce to be able to return to work, probably sooner than they would think, possibly mitigating huge damages done to the economy.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Yes, absolutely. How should it be different? For starters, they should actually enforce it. If that involves changing the laws to allow the government to do so, then fine. They already do it when they see fit. Second, actually DO something, and not just talk about it. The number of times you saw Abe, Koike, and others announce they are holding a press conference, merely to stand up in front of the cameras on Friday to say their announcement is that they will hold a press conference on Monday to announce something (of course, holding up printed signs beside them to illustrate what they are saying: "Announcement... Monday! Remember the three 'Mitsu'") was despicable, not to mention the hanko and all the documents required to do anything that made Japan the laughing stock after the US.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

YES! And do it soon! we are now, per 100,000 people, worse than Tokyo and Osaka down here and it's all because of Abe's "Go to" campaign!

沖縄が全国最悪、直近1週間の感染者 10万人当たり15.31人で東京・大阪を上回る|

https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/610361

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

YES! And it should be different. National lockdown now.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Yes! We have literally had nearly 300 cases here since July 24th, not including the US Military, and they all pretty much are connected to TOURISTS coming to Okinawa after the emergency ended and Abe came up with the idea to push forward the "Go to" campaign from August to the "Olympic" 4 day holiday!

Lock it down! And stop domestic travel from municipalities that are in "Level 3" or "Level 4" conditions.

The last "emergency" was a crock of guano! Make one that sticks! Seeing far too many idiot tourists down here without masks, not social distancing, and causing a sorts of problems.

Thankfully the government here has shut down major publicly run tourist attractions, and that should help some. But it's not enough!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

All non-essential businesses shut, masks to be worn indoors mandatory, ENFORCED social distancing.

All shops if a certain size must employ at least 1 person (could be present staff) just to enforce social distancing. Limit the number of people allowed inside at the same time.

...but, they won’t do this, because according to Aso, the superior people of japan are, well superior, and therefore unaffected, and that’s why we’re well on the way to be like the US or Brazil, India, Mexico, with too much of the virus floating around that even if you decide to do something about it, it’ll be too late.

Good luck guinea pigs!

some of those discriminated against and stuck abroad might find themselves to be the lucky ones depending on where they are

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

NO! NO! NO! The economy cannot take it! The elderly and at risk can stay self-quarantine. The Corona is part of our lives now and we must accept that and move on. Our decades of prosperity has made us weak and cowardly.

You dont pay attention to news do you? Now nearly 60% of the people catching the virus are under the age of 40, with 20's to 30's being the largest group!

Cant have an "open" economy and get everyone sick in the process!

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

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