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Gov't eyes lifting virus emergency in most prefectures on Thursday

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Good.

Open up the world economy, enough damage has been done.

We know enough about the coronavirus now that people can make their own informed choices, just like people have been doing for the common flu every year.

-16 ( +22 / -38 )

Great news.

Although it’s scary to think about the elderly and vulnerable, I really hope that all societies come up with good ways to protect THEM, so that when others return to life, those who should be careful are cared for.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

oldman_13

Good.

Open up the world economy, enough damage has been done.

We know enough about the coronavirus now that people can make their own informed choices, just like people have been doing for the common flu every year.

You do realise that there's a vaccine for the flu, and fewer than 50% of US citizens get it... how's that working out for the "own informed choices"? Comparisons to influenza, even by association, are immensely flawed - and don't really even help your side of the argument.

The constant refrain of "enough damage's been done"... you know another thing that would "damage" the economy? Death on a large scale.

17 ( +34 / -17 )

They have to test more. Simple just do it. The test rates are really low, especially with people infected being tested multiple times . I live here too and where I am people are behaving well but the lack of testing is a big problem as well as the inaccurate numbers of infected. Don't mind opening up of the economy but don't think this is over. It will continue to threaten society untill there is a cure or an effective treatment regimen. The governmhere needs to be honest which they have a hard time doing.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

How many are you testing per day?

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Yes, there should have been selective shutdowns right from the beginning.

At most they should have just 'discouraged' travel betweem prefectures for less affected areas.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Testing , I don't know per day but total is around 215,000 . I know of at least one person that was tested 6 times. Once he had two negatives they released him. They were only testing folks that had a fever for 4 days in a row and over 37.5 . As of this week they have changed the guidelines. Now, people should consult health centers immediately if they have relatively mild cold symptoms for four days or longer or experiencing breathing difficulties or heavy sluggishness to seek advice on whether they have the coronavirus. That is why Japan should wait until the end of May before opening up.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

great news. the bigger prefectures will follow soon and all this nonsense can be put behind us.

-8 ( +9 / -17 )

With testing rates amongst the lowest in the world at 1.82 people per 1000 who can trust the case numbers? Could be 10x the reported amount? Abe has intentionally limited testing to cover up the real numbers. Tokyo won’t be lifting the state of emergency unless they’re bowing to pressure for wealth/babysitting over health? Wouldn’t surprise me though.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

"Approximately 3,400 excess deaths were observed nationwide in the 2018/19 season, which was estimated to be similar to the average year", japanese government influenza (flu) statistics.

https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/2019-10-04-07-17-22/865-iasr/9288-477te.html

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Taro

Could be 10x the reported amount? 

This being true, the low fatality rate of Covid-19 must be further down, at least in Japan.

Most infected people and their neighbors under transmission risk end up getting through without symptoms throughout the process. Besides, how could you deal with asymptomatic virus carriers who choose NOT to get tested? Don't believe that anyone is willing to take a PCR test (with only 60-70% reliability). If found false positive, you would still have to be quarantined for weeks, a totally waste of time.

Widespread testing is limited unless it is compulsory ( and I oppose such an universal, compulsory program which is also technically impossible to apply to all)

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

@noriahojanen

Reported death rate? Not sure that’s accurate either? If reporting is not accurate for testing, fundamentally all data goes out the window.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Probably didn't need to shut down all prefectures from the beginning. Many with zero or less than 5 deaths.

I guess it was the bad timing of Golden Week. Most of inaka was terrified of incoming cases from Tokyo, Osaka etc. Inaka prefectures' emergencies were aimed at stopping tourism, not locals going to the shops.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Zichi

Probably didn't need to shut down all prefectures from the beginning. Many with zero or less than 5 deaths.

Iwate pref has Zero cases, there were approx 12,000 covid-19 inquiries to the Iwate pref health centers and overall only 467 tests have been carried out.

That is a paltry 4 percent. I find it difficult to believe it is zero cases.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

@Mark Tupper

You can check stats at

https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html

The numbers of people tested from 5/7 to 5/10 are

11,983

9,497

1,435

3,367

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Completely agree with @noriahojanen. Excellent points.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@Taro

In public health on most infectious diseases, the fatality rate is usually inferred from sampled datasets. The flu's rate is at around 0.1 % (depending on its type), and the number is attained by NOT counting all individual cases and death numbers. The same is true for much deadlier diseases, such as Ebola or SARS. We don't necessarily seek actual numbers for prevention and treatment response. The case of covid 19 (an variation of SARS) is exceptional in this regard.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Gonna start prep to leave Japan after 12 years. The gov irresponsibility towards this is unforgivable and I will no longer give them my tax money.

-12 ( +11 / -23 )

@Taro

I may agree with a point you make that there must be more cases unconfirmed in Japan even "zero" Iwate. I suspect 10-50 times larger than currently reported. But that also infers a lower fatality rate of Covid-19, similar to that of the flu which I assume is a true picture.

If you still insist on actual numbers, why not also demanding it via testing & daily counting to figure out the flu which have killed more number of people in Japan?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@lesenfant

I dont know which country are you from, but are you sure that your home country (in case you want to leave to your home country) handle things better than here in Japan?

Compare to my home country, I am feeling very very safe in Japan and I am very happy that I can live here.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Regardless of opinions about self-protections, self-preservation and individual prefereces and needs, the fact and reality is that the society cannot function without everyone producing and contributing their share. The government is not a source of every answer or to meet everyone's needs and cannot be functional if everyone was dependent on the government. The government itself is dependent on the entire population for which it is responsible to protect and serve. To that end, one cannot be dependent on the government when the government is the result of the population's productivity. Therefore, one must be allowed to produce in order for the government to provide for those that have the actual need and not necessairily those that just want the benefits of being a member of that society.

To that end, it all boils down to each individual taking responsiblity of and for themselves first. The government must then "allow" that to happen. The risk is always there for everyone. The government cannot risk the destruction of individual production as that will ultimamtely destroy the government and benefits it may be able to provide. That is a sensitive balance which all must be aware, evaluate and determine for themselves and not rely or point it as only the government's responsibility to do so.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Effectively (strategy or not) the covid19 testing in Japan is adequate ! It should only be acurate with serious cases and untested deaths nothing more.

Please understand "test, isolate, whatever.. " is not gonna solve the problem . Immunity will !

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

lesenfantToday  11:08 am JST

Gonna start prep to leave Japan after 12 years. The gov irresponsibility towards this is unforgivable and I will no longer give them my tax money.

Bon voyage. Hope yo go to a country that has handled COVID19 very well. Like New Zealand.

7 ( +14 / -7 )

Bon voyage. Hope yo go to a country that has handled COVID19 very well. Like New Zealand.

Or South Korea. The government of that country proved themselves very competent in dealing with this. Don’t you wish the government of Japan could perform with this level of competence?

I’m sure you’d be the first to congratulate them.

-1 ( +14 / -15 )

Bon voyage. Hope yo go to a country that has handled COVID19 very well. Like New Zealand

How about Antarctica?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Ok, but even after paying taxes, I still have't seen one single of the yen promised.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@noriahojanen

Fair enough. The reality is that people and more importantly governments react and use the numbers to make big decisions. So without accurate numbers it’s undeniably wealth over health which I don’t expect anything else in this country (being America-centric). No accountability for infections/deaths is being taken here, just dumped onto the health care system and their vulnerable workers! Glad they’ll have blood on their hands not me.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Reckless

fact is that under Mr. Abe's watch, the death rate from coronavirus in Japan has been very low and he deserves credit for that.

I also credit Japan in general. Those suggestions/requests wouldn't have worked at all in my country

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@lesenfant

Well said!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

good to see some reopenings and hope for more in the near future.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

@Reckless

Believe what you wanna believe. Just remember the testing has been intentionally limited to 1.82 people per 1000 less than 1%. Foolish to believe any numbers from the Japanese government. Herd immunity is exactly what it means, being a sheep and following the herd jumping off a cliff...

0 ( +6 / -6 )

FLOCK...

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@n1k1

Please understand "test, isolate, whatever.. " is not gonna solve the problem . Immunity will !

Immunity would be great, except so far there's no guarantee of immunity developing with covid-19.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-immunity-idUSKBN21Z2XM

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200426_03/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8231669/There-no-evidence-people-survived-coronavirus-immunity-warns.html

0 ( +5 / -5 )

...and the down vote is because...? If there's evidence of the contrary, I'd be also happy to hear it, so please do share it.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Vince BlackToday

great news. the bigger prefectures will follow soon and all this nonsense can be put behind us.

It's amazing how complacent and ignorant people are about the seriousness and deadliness of this pandemic. Almost 80,000 dead in the US, and you call this "nonsense". I'm sure you'll change your tune if YOU or someone you know gets infected.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

@Vinke

...and the down vote is because...? 

Lol don't sweat it.

People will down vote if they don't agree with your post and up vote if they do, simple as that.

Don't take it personally even if it's personal haha.

Anyway, here's something that could be promising re: covid19 immunity though I don't really understand it:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761320301813

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@Kniknaknokkaer

I recommend you to rent a big bus, because I think for many posters here it is better to leave Japan together with Lesenfant, because they dont trust and do "non stop complain" about how Japan is handling the Corona Virus Situation.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Compare to my home country, I am feeling very very safe in Japan and I am very happy that I can live here.

How many tests does your original country have? Japan is wacking on to at least 6000 a day per 120,000,000.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Testing isn't done enough and autopsies in Japan are mostly done by sight only; therefore, Japan is just lying to its people and the world about the infections and related deaths. Another issue that Japan is covering up!

Korea has better leaders than Japan hands down!

1 ( +7 / -6 )

How many tests does your original country have? Japan is wacking on to at least 6000 a day per 120,000,000.

and Japan has 657 deaths.

How many deaths does your country have??????

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@i@n

Lol don't sweat it.

People will down vote if they don't agree with your post and up vote if they do, simple as that.

Don't take it personally even if it's personal haha.

Anyway, here's something that could be promising re: covid19 immunity though I don't really understand it:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761320301813

Hehe, I don't -I find it somewhat amusing and confusing, that's all. :)

Facts should talk, and people should back up something presented as 'facts' with sources etc.

Thanks for the link! I'll look into it.

I'm always happy to change my opinion, if enough convincing information/data surfaces up. Like I did reg. face masks. I now support the use of them - whereas I was passionately against them just a few months back.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's Surprising to see all the down voting for people cheering the good news!

Do most Japan Today readers prefer not have a life outside their homes and not earn an income?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

The state of emergency should have been lifted long ago. Are they waiting until for the virus to be completely wiped out?

The cases are so low now. All they're doing is wrecking the economy while indefinitely delaying the onset of herd immunity.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

t's amazing how complacent and ignorant people are about the seriousness and deadliness of this pandemic. Almost 80,000 dead in the US, and you call this "nonsense". I'm sure you'll change your tune if YOU or someone you know gets infected.

people I know have got infected, and theyre all fine now.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

people I know have got infected, and they're all fine now.

Do you personally know more than 80,000 people who got infected and survived? Anecdotal means nothing!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@Taro

Fair enough. The reality is that people and more importantly governments react and use the numbers to make big decisions. So without accurate numbers it’s undeniably wealth over health which I don’t expect anything else in this country (being America-centric). No accountability for infections/deaths is being taken here, just dumped onto the health care system and their vulnerable workers! Glad they’ll have blood on their hands not me.

You're mistaken. In most infectious cases, governments as well as other agencies such as WHO make decisions based on sampled/randomized datasets and inferences/analyses. The response is highly valid and working. Why, on what scientific ground should a different (more tedious) approach be taken for the Covid-19?

In NZ, SK or Iceland where widespread testing programs seem successful, it was done so in more micro-level and at very initial and limited period of time. I'd agree on this approach if all clusters are traceable (and actually Japan earlier had tried to chase and crush clusters). With the widespread virus already deeper into our society, we have to re-course and upgrade the strategy. The NZ model is unfit to the current Japan.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Do you personally know more than 80,000 people who got infected and survived? 

no, do you?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It's amazing how complacent and ignorant people are about the seriousness and deadliness of this pandemic. Almost 80,000 dead in the US, and you call this "nonsense". I'm sure you'll change your tune if YOU or someone you know gets infected.

Over 60,000 died from influenza in the US during the 2017-18 flu season. Was the country in lock down?

Also, 80,000 is the number of people who died with the virus, not necessarily from the virus.

Do you personally know more than 80,000 people who got infected and survived? Anecdotal means nothing!

Indeed, anecdotal means nothing. But several studies (US and EU) have shown that for every case of confirmed infection (not only death) there are 20 to 100 cases of undetected infection; i.e, people who were found to have the antibodies and had no idea they had been infected. So I suspect there could be up to 100,000,000 Americans who were infected and survived.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Immunity would be great, except so far there's no guarantee of immunity developing with covid-19.

Perhaps you are interpreting what WHO said differently

..not sure whether the presence of antibodies in blood gives full protection against reinfection..

do notice this is still 18-April and we though PCR test are reliable (they will go positive on very very small traces or sometimes even on not at all) .

Also here; what they are saying is we still don't know the exact prevalence of antibodies required to guarantee immunity.

The same is true for the vaccine candidates too. One of the metrics used to evaluate the vaccine efficiency is by comparing volumes of antibodies from vaccinated people with those that naturally recovered.

Mind you, strictly speaking the WHO can not guarantee that you won't catch a flue just because you were vaccinated.

No sane person can guarantee anything simply because our bodies are different and react differently in different circumstances.

What they are trying to do is keep the lock-down for as long as possible to get as much as possible data to do their job and hopefully prepare us for the next one. That is it. Not only they will not find the solution , they won't be coordinating it either.

We on the other hand have to go on with our lives

apologies for typos

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@vinke ..why minus votes .. hmm I don't know, it happens to me all the time. everything I say sounds so smart in my head and then ..

I think the half of the people here (older, weaker, smokers, alcholics ) see sars-cov-2 as ebola (which from their perspective is ) and the other half as a little bit worse then influenza but not a big deal.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@noriahojanen

All talk, no numbers and facts. No numbers and stats, no talk! Lack of testing leads to fake numbers, that is folly to believe in reality.

Constitutional Democratic Party secretary general Tetsuro Fukuyama told the committee that the number of those who sought consultation had surpassed 1 million, but that less than 60,000 coronavirus tests had been conducted.

Japan has performed only 1.68 tests per 1,000 people, compared with South Korea’s 12.95, Germany’s 32.89 and New Zealand’s 39.47, according to Our World in Data, a research team at the University of Oxford.

Do I stutter?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Anyway, here's something that could be promising re: covid19 immunity though I don't really understand it:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1074761320301813

Thanks i@n for the link. Very promising indeed, though I just read the discussion section on page 10.

Only one person did not have significant long term IgG antibodies; hopefully, they'll figure out why he/she couldn't produce them. All of the other 13 had these neutralizing antibodies.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

idiotic move.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

"Or South Korea. The government of that country proved themselves very competent in dealing with this."

Yeah, yeah. South Korea and all its reinfestation cases.

Advisable to hold on to one's dentures; they may just fall.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Peeping_Tom

Maybe you need to destress and get your exercise?

China,Japan and South Korea are getting back to normal.

You need to know that life in some other countries is not as regulated as your life is.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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