Gov't considers extending COVID quasi-emergency in Tokyo, 9 prefectures

I guess they just want to be seen doing something when this action really doesn't work and wastes so much money.

Considering on Monday, discussing on Wednesday, so expect the announcement of the extension on Friday or Saturday. A familiar pattern.

The quasi-emergency entailing restrictions on business hours of restaurants and bars and a request to refrain from nonessential travel between prefectures is currently in place in 31 of Japan's 47 prefectures through March 6.

And this has not dropped the number of hospitalizations significantly? Surprise, surprise.

With more than half of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients continuing to be filled in those areas

Maybe if the government efforts were directed more towards the central problems of hospital staffing and infrastructure issues, instead of using the pandemic as an excuse to enrich cronies, the crisis could be ended more decisively.

As I said before, rolling unscientific attacks on alcohol lasting upto 6 months. We have seen it all before, first it was silly, now it's getting boring and predictable. Thankfully all the bars I go to completely ignore this now and function normally.

many places in my neighborhood have gone out of business permanently. The effect this stupid quasi BULL has had on people's livelihoods will be felt for a long time.

Especially when many of the cases are young people but they don't bother to close the schools....

When will this madness end?

agree it’s just a way for the useless govt to show they are doing something. Pathetic.

a lot of bars and restaurants do adhere and they will be going out of business soon.

id like to see the figures on how many have already gone out of business. Many in my neighborhood. Livelihoods destroyed by unnecessary panic.

More quasai nonsense!!

Time to enjoy the hanami soon!

Not missing it for a third year!!

You can complain about the government all you want, but the weekly deaths from COVID-19 in Japan are about twice as high as the previous peak. Things are not back to normal.

We never hear about what symptoms the bed-fillers are in with.

Water in lungs? A good reason.

A runny nose? Not really.

Covid? What covid, I thought the new distraction to keep us confused is war.

We never hear about what symptoms the bed-fillers are in with.

Water in lungs? A good reason.

A runny nose? Not really.

Excellent point!

They knew the date would be minimum March 20 when this started.

Its amazing people actually think a debate is happening.

Covid? What covid, I thought the new distraction to keep us confused is war.

You may be confused but don’t think everyone else is.

The lunacy continues! All in or none in! Quasi = govt with no idea!

Japan is still living in 2021.

Keep up the economic pain with useless rules and spread the economic malaise Japan-pathetic !

Imbeciles. I hate the backwards nature of this country at times.

These measures are not based in science in the slightest. Truly pathetic. As mentioned by others, it's merely to look like the government's actions are having a result on case numbers, when in actuality they know they're going down naturally. Of course they'll still crow that because you didn't have a beer at your local at 9pm last Tuesday they saved the day.

Tatemae wins again. Will the insanity ever end?

No need to fear anymore. Winter is over. 6th wave will be over in End of March.

End of March is a long way still, hopefully it ends sooner.

@Slayer - best comment of the month! Completely captured my view.

I see many establishments going out of business around where I live, giving up prime locations because they simply could not bring in enough customers. 2 years and this is still our only answer.

@ian Today  10:51 am JST

End of March is a long way still, hopefully it ends sooner.

I hope so too, but probably officials are expecting to see the numbers going down to 3 digits Island wide.

Get the F up out of here. Countries around the world are opening up and resuming normalcy. They're jabbing people with the booster and trusting them to be smart about what they do when they go out. Meanwhile in bloody Japan, they seem hellbent on ruining people's livelihoods and keep the country isolated and in a chokehold of half-ass measures that have no basis in logic or science. Wake the hell up, Japan.

Gotta extend it more to prevent any upcoming Hanami parties or any other such fun activities. not allowed.

Sure why not forever. Lets close restaurants early and push people to become Hikikomori, until all viruses in the world have been eliminated. Insane.

If your attempt at a Hanami is thwarted by the draconian tyranny of a little old volunteer wearing a vest then your cries of freedom at all costs ring pretty hollow.

Mask lovers, doomers and rule lovers everywhere will be in TEARS when the world finally gets over corona.

I just left Japan, and I'm visiting my father for the first time in years. No restrictions here, except masks on transit, and vaccine passports. I was a strong proponent of masks, vaccines, and the rules to protect us all, and they worked. Now that we have medicines, vaccines, and ways of dealing with covid, I'm glad the world is opening back up towards normal.

I'm not in any tears, and in fact, I'm quite enjoying it.

Strangerland

I just left Japan, and I'm visiting my father for the first time in years. No restrictions here, except masks on transit, and vaccine passports. I was a strong proponent of masks,

Masks have a place in crowded internal spaces (not in the open air, as seems to be the new dress code in Tokyo), but vaccine passports? Are you kidding? What other personal medical condition to you want to share with strangers? And the old argument that the vaccinated do not get or spread the virus has been debunked years ago. What country are you talking about?

Gotta extend it more to prevent any upcoming Hanami parties or any other such fun activities. not allowed.

You can have a Hanami.

Sure why not forever. Lets close restaurants early and push people to become Hikikomori, until all viruses in the world have been eliminated. Insane.

You can go outside or visit a restaurant. You don’t need to become a shut-in.

Masks have a place in crowded internal spaces (not in the open air, as seems to be the new dress code in Tokyo

Tokyo citizens have been wearing masks en masse for far longer than this virus has been around. Nothing new about it.

Bob Fosse

Tokyo citizens have been wearing masks en masse for far longer than this virus has been around. Nothing new about it.

That is true, but not to this extent. There used to be the mask wearers, especially during hayfever season, but not almost everyone like now. What is especially bizarre is the new etiquette.... in my local "snack", people come in from the empty street with their masks, then take the mask off to to talk and sing karaoke at the crowded counter, and then put the mask back on to go outside on the empty street. Clownworld!

You can have a Hanami.

Can I? Or will it be roped off like last year and the year before?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/21/cherry-blossom-festivals-nipped-in-the-bud-as-japan-leaves-lockdown

Can I? Or will it be roped off like last year and the year before?

You should have said sooner.

The western world didn’t need lockdowns and mandates, just ropes and ojisan volunteers.

There used to be the mask wearers, especially during hayfever season, but not almost everyone like now.

I get it, you still hate masks. But too bad, most people here disagree with you. Like it or lump it.

You don’t have to wear a mask here if you don’t want to, you know that right? Don’t be timid, just don’t wear one if you don’t want to. No need to prove anything.