5 Japanese evacuees from Wuhan taken to hospital; 2 have pneumonia

I wish these people a fast recovery!

As so often is the case, the mask is not correctly, hanging off the nose. Look at the man in the dark coat in the middle. Typical. These masks just say, "I'm worried and a trend follower".

temporarily banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them.

Banning the trade in wild animals is a good first step, and encouraging people to not eat them is even better. But why temporary?

Everyone please take precautions.

Elderly and those who have weak immune systems especially

So, all the people on the plane, the medical staff, cabin attendants and the navigator and pilots are under quarantine at home?

Hmmmm....

The sharp rise in infections recently suggests significant human-to-human spread of the virus, though it could also be explained by expanded monitoring efforts, said Malik Peiris, chair in virology at the University of Hong Kong.

Malik Peiris should take note of the bus driver infection that occurred in Nara which clearly shows the vector is from human to human...

From that one plane and crew and passengers that's going to be one wild public health vector spreadsheet

@klausdorth

"And now they got (at least) 4 more cases of coronavirus back in Japan."

From what I understand these people have not been diagnosed with anything yet. I think we should wait until the blood tests come back after they are admitted to the hospital, tested, and diagnosed.

However if Japan wishes to be cautious then Japan should go against the global trend (with the exception of Australia and China) and Japan should quarantine the passengers and crew for 2 weeks from the day of landing.

Every single evacuee should have been quarantined upon arrival and kept under observation for the duration of the incubation period, i.e. if the incubation period is as long as two weeks, then the quarantine period would be two weeks or until blood tests could positively clear them of infection. That should have been the non-negotiable condition the evacuees had to accept before being allowed to board the flight. Normal temperature readings taken upon arrival indicate nothing. There is a greater than zero probability that these two men in the photo are infected and will show symptoms in the days to come, and all of the pictured reporters and everyone else they've come in contact with after they stepped off that plane have potentially been exposed. Same goes for all of the evacuees who were allowed to go home on their own recognizance. From an emergency management standpoint, the way the GOJ is conducting this voluntary repatriation is criminal.

Agreed, quarantine for 14 days if the blood tests are positive for each on that plane.

Takeo Aoyama ought to not bother wearing a mask at all if he's planning on keeping his nose uncovered.

The number of people in Tokyo who wear these masks as a magical talismanic chinwarmer never ceases to infuriate me.

That this man who just got off the plane and is supposed to be in quarantine is allowed to flounce about in front of the press with his nose uncovered is just inconceivable.

yeah make sure those reporters are nice and close and not the 2m plus distance recommended. smh

each of these reporters will now take the train home.

This is beyond stuppid, its obvious their doctors arent even able to test properly.. , well done on another spread of viruses.. that said.. the strong will just get stronger.

if your health is iffy i recommend staying away from public next few weeks... and get urself a 99 or 95 level face mask...

They are all infected now because they traveled in the same plane! Now that the Japanese authorities have let them go freely into the general population we will definitely see a rapid increase in the number of people getting infected with this! This is a big blunder from Japanese authorities! I’m surprised that there isn’t much outcry from the Japanese people yet! When it’s too late then they’ll start with the blame game and look for a scapegoat !

The number of people in Tokyo who wear these masks as a magical talismanic chinwarmer never ceases to infuriate me.

Yes and this is the same who happily walk out from the restroom without washing their hands on a daily basis.

Banning the trade in wild animals is a good first step, and encouraging people to not eat them is even better. But why temporary?

Yeah, this finally forced folks to switch to vegetarian diet, veggies are fast disappearing or simply not available in the affected areas.

"Takeo Aoyama ought to not bother wearing a mask at all if he's planning on keeping his nose uncovered."

Exactly. I always chuckle at people saying masks are effective and then doing this, or pulling the mask down to cover their chin while they wipe nose with hands, have a smoke and a drink (wiping the top of bottle with sleeve), then rub the mask back over face except nose. And while today it's another 4 in Japan -- passengers on the plane. Tomorrow it'll be another 10. Those who went home will have given it to family, etc. Face it, the government screwed up in not making quarantine mandatory for the people returning, and now the genie is out of the bottle.

They are all infected now because they traveled in the same plane! Now that the Japanese authorities have let them go freely into the general population we will definitely see a rapid increase in the number of people getting infected with this! This is a big blunder from Japanese authorities! I’m surprised that there isn’t much outcry from the Japanese people yet! When it’s too late then they’ll start with the blame game and look for a scapegoat !

Exactly! Ryan hit the nail on the head.

Australia has placed its evacuees in quarantine on Christmas Island for two weeks. Good idea, hey? Just saying.

The countless times I’ve pointed to a mask “wearing" person, pointed to my nose and said, "意味ないじゃん!"

Exactly. I always chuckle at people saying masks are effective and then doing this, or pulling the mask down to cover their chin while they wipe nose with hands, have a smoke and a drink (wiping the top of bottle with sleeve), then rub the mask back over face except nose.

While we don't normally view things eye to eye, I have to agree with your input on this one. I just came back from grocery store and saw a guy, coughing, sneezing with a mask but took it off and blasted away in the close proximity of the open veggies, then again at the open fish area. What was the point of the mask?

As for the cases going up according to experts in Japan The number of patients in Japan is feared to increase in the future now that a case of infection of a person who had never been to Wuhan has been found.

As for the current system in place i.e. thermal scanner" that is not really effective as aspirin and other medications can "hide" the symptoms, in response by the health ministry has engaged into reviewing the current application of its surveillance system to detect suspected infections, expanding the scope of the targets. In this system, medical institutions report to public health centers with the aim of achieving an early understanding of unknown infections.

In the case of the coronavirus, the surveillance system was intended only for those who came into contact with a certain category of person — namely, those who had visited Wuhan within two weeks and had a fever and respiratory problems — and as a result contracted the same symptoms as the person. The ministry plans to expand the scope of suspected infected individuals because the current standard may miss some of them.

Better hit the local Costco this weekend and stock up on supplies. Not liking how the number of infected keep climbing!

@USNinJapan2 Today 02:14 pm JST

The problem seems to be that the coronavirus did not fall into the previously legislated categories that would give the Japanese government the right to impose a compulsory preventive quarantine. From a rule of law perspective, this is actually correct, unless you want the government to be given random rights to expand compulsory detention measures as they see fit.

Love the pic of the pilot. He looks like he's taking no chances. Unfortunately, most masks do not protect users from breathing in fine particles including fine droplets of water containing viruses. Also, viruses can get in via the eyes (and nose - duh) which are exposed. There will be some nervous people after that flight.

I totally disagree with Japan's policy of bringing the evacuees directly into Tokyo. The US is stopping in Alaska and Australia at Christmas Island. Framkly, I think it was rather stupid.

Kazuaki Shimazaki

From a rule of law perspective, this is actually correct, unless you want the government to be given random rights to expand compulsory detention measures as they see fit.

Then quite simply, the GOJ should have first assigned the applicable legal category enabling them to mandate a quarantine and absolutely shouldn't have offered the voluntary evacuation if the evacuees were unwilling to voluntarily submit to a quarantine. This evacuation wasn't necessary, but because these citizens wanted (understandably) to come home. The result now is that the government has quite possibly contributed knowingly to the further spread of a pandemic. If what you say is true, then it's damning that 1) the GOJ doesn't already have emergency legislation prepared to cover an emergent situation like this, and 2) chose to go ahead with this optional evacuation when they couldn't legally impose a quarantine upon repatriation, something which any sane person would see is essential to public safety.

The problem seems to be that the coronavirus did not fall into the previously legislated categories that would give the Japanese government the right to impose a compulsory preventive quarantine. From a rule of law perspective, this is actually correct, unless you want the government to be given random rights to expand compulsory detention measures as they see fit.

BS. Japan has proven multiple times that it does not care about the rule of law, that it easily doesn't respect current legislation and that it will be more than willing to impose arbitrary detention measures. That aside, your point is anyway meaningless and unrelated since every serious country should have a precise procedure to deal with situations related to public health unless you are willing to admit that Japan is incompetent.

I read that France had also evacuated french citizens from Wuhan and that they are keeping the people without symptoms in a designated location under constant observation and isolated for 14 days. France did not have a specific "category" for this coronavirus either since by definition it's a new strain. They nevertheless came up with a quarantine plan without any drama. So your tentative of Japan apologism is quit ridiculous.

Does the concept of ‘quarantine’ exist in Japan? These people have returned with fevers from an area of China where hundreds of people are infected and a few have died from the deadliest virus in recent years and they have them parading around like prized bulls. They should all be camped on the Sengoku islands until they are cleared of the virus.

 The ministry plans to expand the scope of suspected infected individuals because the current standard may miss some of them.

any schedules on that? couple years or so?

LOL and Facepalm...oh wait, don't touch your face!

2-5, tomorrow more. Then on friday after the people they foolishly let go home turn up at the office after riding rush hour trains....many more.

@Ossan - The original plan for the U.S. flight was to stop briefly in Alaska, check people for symptoms, etc. and then fly to Ontario, California and let people go with the same requirements as Japan (self quarantine). Ontario is in the L.A. metro area.....The U.S. plan was no better than Japan's

BUT BUT BUT - to add more to this discussion

The flight was diverted at the last minute to a March Air Force base in Riverside....with no explanation except for "we were prepared for the worst"

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7941211/Flight-carrying-240-Americans-evacuated-Wuhan-diverted-military-airbase.html

I would have to say this is a bit disconcerting to say the least.

 stay home for about two weeks until 

Until they contaminate all the pizza delivery guys ? It's stupid particularly as it appears that non-sick people can be contagious (one case in Germany, one in France...).

Every single evacuee should have been quarantined upon arrival

Exactly. Particularly people of this trip that were all in the most contaminated zone.

 unless you want the government to be given random rights to expand compulsory detention measures as they see fit.

That's already the case. Not used 'randomly' we hope, but they can decide of emergency detentions if circumstances demand it.

Does the concept of ‘quarantine’ exist in Japan?

For gaijins back from holiday in Thailand with fever, yes.

They test them at airport, direct them to a special area (Kansai and Narita are well equipped) , and in case of doubt, keep them up to weeks in a special center. Also, if you feel sick after returning to your place, they have a team of paramedics wearing spaceship outfits that come to pick you up and 'clean' your house.

OK, joking about gaijins, they also do it with J-citizens. I know journalists and NGO workers that were quarantine returning from certain areas (ebola, zika...). It's routine for them.

I don't get why they don't use the system now.

Here is more on the sudden re-routing of the U.S. evacuation flight with a bit more detail (however

Interesting.....no additional reason as to why it was re-routed however.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-chartering-evacuation-flight-wuhan-coronavirus-zone-california/story?id=68571310

Today’s official report from China translated.

About 20% severely sick. That’s why it is worst than the flu if it extends, which I think will not

At 04:00 on January 28th, 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) reported 1459 new confirmed cases, 263 new severe cases, and 26 new deaths (25 in Hubei and 1 in Henan). 43 new cases were cured and discharged, and 3248 suspected cases were added (including 1 in Tibet).

As of 24:00 on January 28, the National Health and Health Commission has received a total of 5,974 confirmed cases in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities), 1,239 cases of severe cases, 132 cases of deaths, and 103 patients cured and discharged. There are 9239 suspected cases.

At present, 65,537 close contacts have been tracked, 1,604 medical observations have been lifted that day, and 59,990 people are currently undergoing medical observations.

A total of confirmed cases were reported from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan: 8 cases from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 7 cases from Macao Special Administrative Region, and 8 cases from Taiwan.

Even My seven-year-old son said all the evacuees should be on quarantine.

Japanese government is so stupid and slow.

Quit being politicians if you can't figure out what a seven-year-old boy can

wait! These people might have this virus, and reporters are crowding around wearing just flimsy store bought masks? REALLY? Am I insane or isn't this something to be concerned about????

.... yeah....going downhill now....that’s 2 cases

@USNinJapan2Today 04:40 pm JST

Then quite simply, the GOJ should have first assigned the applicable legal category enabling them to mandate a quarantine

Well, this is the way the law is worded:

Type 1: Exactly seven diseases listed in the statute itself, including Ebola.

Type 2: Exactly six diseases listed in the statute itself, including SARS, MERS and Tuberculosis, Bird Flu (the law goes into very restricted subtypes)...

Since this did not fall into either category of exactly thirteen diseases, it is Type 3 - something designated by Cabinet Order. And the executive can't order any kind of detention for that. Which is healthy as a legislative stance - the executive will simply NOT be allowed to detain someone on a new basis without legislature approval.

absolutely shouldn't have offered the voluntary evacuation if the evacuees were unwilling to voluntarily submit to a quarantine.

Have you considered how if people are not understanding this can be interpreted as a threat or extortion? And if they are cooperative they would at least stay in their homes?

@daito_hakToday 04:44 pm JST

BS. Japan has proven multiple times that it does not care about the rule of law, that it easily doesn't respect current legislation and that it will be more than willing to impose arbitrary detention measures. 

Don't tell me about Ghosn. Ghosn was arrested and detained on specific grounds stipulated by the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Laws, with several stages approved by a judge. That you might not like what the statute reads like does not change that. From a legal perspective, this cannot be compared to any kind of detention by pure executive fiat.

You can't just throw your principles out the window at the first smell of emergency.

 France did not have a specific "category" for this coronavirus either since by definition it's a new strain.

I'm not familiar with how the various statutes and laws fit together in France. However, you will not be so praiseworthy had France detained someone on the basis of some "blanket law". Also, I don't think people (both in and out of France) would be screaming about it being unconstitutional if France wanted to deploy a destroyer in the Middle East, but if Japan does that people in and out would beef. The power allocated to the government just isn't the same everywhere.

the sudden diversion of the US plane to a military base and now this....not good news

something has changed to have caused that US plane to divert

I just read Britons evacuated will remain at an airforce base for 14 days, Americans will also go to an airforce base in California for a period undetermined at the moment and Australians will be sent to Christmas Island for quarantine.

Tokyo and the Japanese do realize they have the Olympics and Paralympics in less than six months don't they?

Isn't Japan already ageing, causing a burden on the health care and pensions? I don't think politicians are too worried if that burden were to ease, or the sick die off.

@tamanegi. Can you please post a link to that? I would like to read it. The US “news cycle” is awakening and hopefully more will come out.

This is a time to read alternative news (sure......of course keep your suspicious perspective about some of those sources) as there have been times they were right.

In situations like this there is documented evidence ALL governments have been less than forthcoming with their populace.

Australia: 2 weeks quarantine on Christmas Island

England: 2 weeks quarantine in a military base

France: 2 weeks quarantine in isolated facility in Paris

USA: thorough check-up in Alaska, diverts everyone to military base for unknown reason

Japan: please don't cough in the train during rush hour k?

My estimate is tomorrows stats will be 3000- 4000 cases reported,and 200-250 dead. Just a conservative estimate though so as not to light up the already woke ones who frequent this News site.

That is world wide though so as you dont think i was referring to Japan only

Face masks completely sold out in my area.

Apparently this virus can survive out in the air for up to 30 minutes.

This does not bode well at all.

Australia: Christmas Island

USA: Military base

UK: Military base

Japan... FUBAR. Just absolutely astoundingly stupid beyond all comprehension.

So, what can be concluded from the extremely different standards of care shown by the Japanese government compared to other governments?

Either the Japanese government is 1.extremely misinformed or 2.has knowledge of the corona virus that is superior to other governments, thus it is not seen as a threat.

Only time will tell which one it is...

I just read this from an NHK news article...

The prime minister says a government task force will be set up on Thursday to help keep the virus from spreading in the country.

It’s too late now probably, but please admit your mistake JGov and go round them all up and put them in quarantine for 14 days like NOW! They should never have evacuated people without getting their signed consents to remain in quarantine upon arrival in Japan- no exceptions. Understandable that they wanted to get out of Wuhan and back to Japan, but not acceptable to transport the virus back to Japan in a free ANA plane and create a pandemic. Where is the outrage in the Japanese media about this? Isn’t the Tokyo Olympics like the most sacred thing ever to Japan and only six months away?? Billions of Olympic yen are at stake if the virus gets hold in Japan. No one will come near the place.....don’t they realise that?

The prime minister says a government task force will be set up on Thursday to help keep the virus from spreading in the country.

And no one in the GOJ thought this is something they should do BEFORE they repatriated people from the quarantined area of Hebei Province. Unforgivable incompetence.

The news just said that everyone on the airplane was not infected. Hopefully that is definitive and not just wishful thinking.

Just finished watching the news, and while most evacuees decided to get checked and stay in a hotel, which didn’t have enough rooms, so some are sharing a room, 2 men refused to be checked and just left! Unfrikkin believable!

The most troubling and disturbing point about the U.S. diverting the flight to the military base is the fact that this was a last minute diversion after the plane had departed Anchorage for Ontario (basically LA).

This type of change is not something that is made "light heartedly" for lack of a better word.

The sudden change in destination is what I find to be worrisome

If these returnees are not in quarantine, thegovt of Japan should be held responsible for all and any further infections.

The media simply HAVE to ask Abe the burning question why Japan is so out of step with its G20 colleagues here in not quarantining these people to islands or military bases. It’s outrageous.

It's no big deal the experts said. Just a cold or flu. The US still hasn't suspended flights to China.

I have this feeling that I'm in a thriller movie plot and surely I'm not the main character. Will see how it ends.

@redelmotalking Today 11:25 pm JST

Question has been asked and answered:

https://business.nikkei.com/atcl/gen/19/00002/012801051/?n_cid=nbpnb_mled_epu

厚生労働省は「人権侵害に当たり、法的にも権限がない」として、退避した日本人の強制的な隔離をせず、自主的な医療施設の検診を呼びかける方針だ。

Because it is a human rights violation and lacks a legal basis, compulsory quarantine will not be used.

The news said everyone on the airplane was not infected? That's great. Explains why multiple of them have been hospitalized for pneumonia, coughing and fever. Also, guess who else was 'not infected' when he first showed up at the hospital? The bus driver who was actually infected. Oops.

But hey, this is just a mysterious new pandemic, who cares right? Perhaps a hot bath at the communal onsen will help everyone who went home. Get those juices flowing!

You don't have to go to China to find two Japanese with pneumonia. It is too expensive. You can find them in Japan, on the streets, million of them.

Kazuaki Shimazaki: "Because it is a human rights violation and lacks a legal basis, compulsory quarantine will not be used."

Wrong. Quarantining based on disease is not against human rights, which is why other nations are properly quarantining their people (not "detaining", as you suggest). Dude, you are defending the most absurd decision so far this year by Abe and Co., and this is going to hurt Japan severely -- a place where already thousands upon tend of thousands get the flu in an ordinary flu season, and schools are closed en masse. These guys were let go in the city with the highest population density in the world, with 5 -- up from 4 this afternoon -- already showing symptoms after coming into contact with each other, hundreds of others on the plane, the media, family, and strangers en route to each.

I hope when Japan starts getting boycotted in the very near future you realize it is your defense that helped make it so, and when after that other nationals are asked to leave, you don't start complaining and suggesting Japan did nothing wrong.

M-O-O-N, that spells Captain Trips... I mean, coronavirus. Good job, GOJ.

Yes, I do wish these people a speedy recovery. And have everyone who was on the plane checked out just in case, if they haven’t been checked out already.

And I also agree with the Chinese government being the sale of wild animals, urging people not to eat meat from them. It’s one of the few benefits from having a Communist gov’t that they can do stuff like this. Though I obviously would never wanna live under one myself.

simple math says 20-30% on the plane with them also infected. Aussies have right idea

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-to-evacuate-citizens-from-hubei-to-remote-island-for-quarantine

If they do not ban the entry of the chinese nationals, the rest of the world will soon have to ban the Japanese

Question has been asked and answered:

https://business.nikkei.com/atcl/gen/19/00002/012801051/?n_cid=nbpnb_mled_epu

厚生労働省は「人権侵害に当たり、法的にも権限がない」として、退避した日本人の強制的な隔離をせず、自主的な医療施設の検診を呼びかける方針だ。

Because it is a human rights violation and lacks a legal basis, compulsory quarantine will not be used.

Gotta luv it when strictly factual posts like this one are voted down. Shows some JT commentators prefer fake news to facts.

Commentators here frequently complain about the authoritarian nature of the Japanese government yet they seem to also want to Japanese government to quarantine Japanese citizens with no legal basis for doing so.

If testing can identify asymptomatic people who are infected, there is no need to quarantine those whose results come up negative.

Living close to a magnet for Chinese tourists (Ikebukuro), I am more likely to pick up the virus from a Chinese tourist than evacuees from Wuhan.

That also holds for everyone in Japan, Japanese or foreign, who frequents any of the areas that attract large numbers of Chinese tourists.

I find it bizarre that those who so frequently criticize the Abe government are asking it to treat Japanese citizens the way communist China treats Uighurs.

OK. Taking a step back from the hype here, there are two things that I think the average person wishes to know about the Coronavirus

1) How severe (ex mortality rate) is it when compared to seasonal 'flu etc

2) How easily is this transmitted when compared to the seasonal flu outbreaks.

This will then put it into context for the average person, with something to compare it to.

One interesting fact which I discovered is that 53% of Chinese adult males smoke, and during the SARS outbreak this made those men almost twice as likely to contract the respiratory illness. Coupled with the extremely poor air quality in China, which is itself a major risk factor for respiratory disease, and the virus has a perfect breeding ground. Coupled with overcrowding, often less than sanitary living conditions etc.

Fortunately, many of those risk factors are significantly lower in other countries.

smithinjapanToday 12:52 am JST

Quarantining based on disease is not against human rights, which is why other nations are properly quarantining their people (not "detaining", as you suggest).

Ah, now THIS is categorically wrong. Quarantining IS a restriction on freedom, which IS an infringement on human rights. You might argue it is a JUSTIFIED infringement, but it is NOT "not against" human rights. In fact, it'll be justified on collectivist grounds.

You are certainly free to say you disagree. But don't buff it by saying things that are untrue.

None of the persons evacuated back to Japan should have contact with any of the public and should be isolated in a quarantine facility where they can give the interviews over Skype or another method of long distance video/voice transmission. I am amazed at how stupid this media interview was allowed to be conducted.

@BungleToday 10:04 am JST

Pure, simple, unadulterated moral cowardice. Sometimes it is necessary to make difficult decisions because it is the right thing to do, yet time and again we see Japanese hiding behind weasel words.

Are you seriously saying that agencies following the law and siding on the side of individual human rights is "hiding behind weasel words"?

Certainly, there is room to argue they can be left at Wuhan - deliberate inaction is at least not obviously illegal. If people had just stuck to that, I might let their opinion stand. But no, it has to be bring them home and imprison them, correct?

funny enough holding people for questioning for 23 days would be an effective quarantine (only need 14)

.Henny PennyJan. 30 06:59 am JST

"...Living close to a magnet for Chinese tourists (Ikebukuro), I am more likely to pick up the virus from a Chinese tourist than evacuees from Wuhan..."

Based on what scientific data?

If one was to accept your conclusion, then it would appear justifying the exclusion of Chinese tourists anywhere as a "threat" to be acceptable.

And the squabbling over quarantining is nonsense.

The Abe govt had a Big PR plan to bring home Japanese citizens (ie save them), but it's bungling bureaucracy had not done the necessary groundwork here so we now have this contentious situation.

Some people would like to exaggerate the case of quarantine as a kind of Gulag. Ridiculous.

Govt should have secured a large facility (hotel or other) in a low density populated area - Okinawa, Tohoku, or even better Abe's hometown area Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi - and comfortably housed the returnees until their safety was declared. No ones rights would have been trampled on and any threat of imminent widespread infection would have been greatly eased.

But - oh no - just another blunder with the same parroted excuse "We will seek to get the understanding of the people".