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© Thomson Reuters 2020.Japan defends cautious approach on coronavirus testing as 7th death reported
By Linda Sieg and Sakura Murakami TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
84 Comments
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Yubaru
BULL! This is not a 3rd world country! If testing people for a potentially deadly virus would "overwhelm!" the capacity of the testing facilities, I suppose you would rather have patients potentially SPREAD the disease further!
Chip Star
It seems as though the testing policy is reasonable. Given the number of non-emergency cases to which ambulances respond in this country, It’s safe to say that a lot of Japanese people run to the doctor for no good reason.
Yubaru
Right and once they get pneumonia the "facilities" are going to be even more hard pressed to deal with increase in patients!
One guy says test, another dont!
It is one damn good reason! If people want to be tested! Let them be tested! It's supposedly a free society right!
If the tests are required, let insurance cover it! If it's NOT required, let the patient pay the cost of the test in full!
Hokkaidoboy
I partially agree since I am all against creating panic. This is not a Titanic-like situation, the ship is not sinking. However, I also believe that if not taken seriously, it could cost way too many lives when it's easy to simply comply with public demands on information and prevention of the virus. Anyway, the govt is never up to the people's real wishes.
JonathanJo
Presumably about 6,200 were negative, given there were about 100 positives in the last week. That's slightly reassuring. But only slightly.
zatoizugoodo
This whole fiasco lends credence to my thought that Japan is actually a third world country behind a first world facade.
rgcivilian1
Old style thinking, next will come the aroma therapy and needles as a cure by some old guy with a long beard sitting on a tatami mat.
since1981
I agree with not getting tested just to ease your mind. You may test negative today, give yourself a sense of relief, go out with your daily routine and wind up positive the day after being tested. Testing negative does not make you immune to a disease. Make changes to your daily routine until this China made virus is controlled.
kurisupisu
@Burning Bush
”Black Africa”
Really?
As if a continent could have a color...
Yubaru
In my opinion, it will never be truly "controlled", just added to the lists of other viruses that have been born in relatively recent years. People will eventually calm down here as well!
Dont know if people remember the last "shingatta" or "new" strain of influenza, the MERS virus I believe it was called, and when it hit here, it wasn't as bad as this one, media wise, but folks pretty much fell off their rockers then too!
The media is playing it's part to a "T" in stirring the pot, of that there is no doubt in my mind, and irresponsible reporting, and fear mongering, THIS time has gone over board once again!
There is a "silver lining" to this scare though, according to the news, the number of people who have contracted the seasonal flu virus this year, here in Japan, have dropped significantly compared to recent history. Thanks, pretty much wholly, to the increase in media coverage about this virus.
People are not "afraid" of the flu, and in my opinion, they should be MORE of afraid of "it" in many ways, than this virus, as even as there are vaccinations FOR the flu, many, many, many, more die from it yearly than have or will die from this bug!
Do what you have to do! Be smart! Just PLEASE wash your hands and sanitize them before you shake my hand thanking me! (lol!)
Akie
What cautious approach ? This is a war. Where is the proactive warhead Abe ?
vanityofvanities
So many cautions and preventions are announced or recommended because the cure is not established. It is impossible to do all the cautions and preventions to continue our daily life.
Chip Star
A war we are in because of the filthy conditions China allows to occur at markets.
James Stowe
Funny, you should visit the U.K.
extanker
That's a bit unreasonable as even the best hospitals only have so much capacity. You can't expect even the most well equipped medical facilities to be able to accommodate an increase of potentially double and triple, or more, the normal number of patients.
didou
Just the tip of the iceberg now. knowing some get tested once they show pneumonia symptoms or at best, when their cold get worse.
No need to test just because of anxiety. it has never happened anyway.
But à need for a test when symptoms get consistent with the Coronavirus even if pneumonia is not yet seen. and not waiting the patient died like in Hakodate yesterday.
Interesting to know that 2.5 million people do die every year from pneumonia, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia and mostly children under 5. As this does not concern is directly in the said développés countries of the Northern Hemisphere, we do not hear about it
rainyday
I believe the logic being displayed here is that the far right in the US has already figured out that Trump is going to botch the American response to this, so they are getting out in front of that and spreading nonsense about it not being a big deal.
Beanie
Encouraging people to stay home and not overwhelm hospitals unless really sick (or high risk) is a good idea. Most people will experience this virus as a minor cold. Going out to get tested just increases the chance of more people getting infected and even if you do test positive, there is no treatment unless you are critical and need a ventilator
The problem with this limited testing is that too many people don’t realise how widespread infection is, so they aren’t telling employees to stay home, aren’t cancelling concerts, aren’t taking the kind of actions that would stop the spread.
Alfie Noakes
When did cautious become a synonym for "do nothing and hope it goes away"?
Yubaru
Do not forget that there are outsource facilities in every prefecture and multiple one's in all major metropolitan areas as well!
Individual hospitals do not have to test on site! Hence my comment about giving the patients the choice to pay for the tests themselves.
Capuchin
Abe: The IOC are getting spooked. How can we stop the number of those diagnosed with the corona virus going up?
Bureaucrat A: Implement stricter quarantine measures? Develop a robust counter measure to infection?
Abe: Hmmm, sounds a bit mendo kusai.
Bureaucrat B: Stop diagnosing people?
Abe: Now that's a government strategy right there. Remember all the trouble we got into when we actually started reporting bullying?
Capuchin
Sorry, I forgot plan B. Announcements and posters!
Ah_so
Scientifically we know that this is wrong. It is a much more infectious disease than seasonal flu, as we have seen on the Diamond Princess. The mortality rate of this disease is 20 to 30 times that of ordinary seasonal influenza. This is potentially dangerous misinformation that could accelerate the spread of the disease.
mu-da
"Cautious approach on coronavirus testing" Is this fake news or hiding the reality of the incapacity of Japan's medical system and political leadership?
gokai_wo_maneku
So yesterday I spent an hour going to a variety of drug stores and convenience stores looking for masks here in Shinjuku. Not a single one. If we can't even provide masks, then the situation looks pretty hopeless to me.
mu-da
@ Ah_so
If you can't back up your statement with solid scientific sources, your post may also qualify for infecting other people with panic - potentially more disastrous than the virus - and/or fake news. You should look at the yearly numbers of influenza, for perspective. Having said that, I do not agree that the approach to testing in this country is now termed "cautious".
Wallace Fred
Who in their right mind will come to the Olympics with this level of assurance?
In a word, yes. Good old fashioned propaganda. One only has to look at what Korea is doing to see that japan under the grossly incompetent leadership is doomed.
Neux Reux
For heaven's sake try to defend us, our health and lives - not yourself.
itsonlyrocknroll
An estimated 40 million plus people are expected to visit the Japan in 2020, inclusive of Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
There has be a comprehensive independent risk assessment published that will manage a process of identifying, assessing and controlling the current outbreak.
Most importantly a full programme to prepare for the unexpected.
To postpone (Tokyo Olympics) is possibly a more preferable option, but to press on ahead regardless is insane. Monetarily, the costs will be painful. I’ve spent silly money on an Olympic package, but one has to be protective of one’s family, my nephews and nieces future health and welfare.
Abe san/Government has to bite the bullet and show leadership. Refrain the temptation to political ducking and diving.
Jimizo
So, it looks like the plan is wait it out/do nothing apart from sending out a few advisories and just hope the heat kills this thing off in time for the Olympics.
Anyway, it’s Premium Friday tomorrow. Any advisories for the tiny minority who follow this about travel on this joyous economy-boosting festival?
Omachi
If there is test capacity for 3,800 a day, they should be testing that number every day, assuming there is a demand. It isn’t like testing causes damage, or panic - just the opposite if the results are negative. All it takes is a swab. I’d open test tents in parks, street corners, fire stations, kobans - maybe even konbini’s.
itsonlyrocknroll
The daily media need to regurgitate a list of infection rates and subsequent deaths, fails to fully identify /comprehend the mapping or relationship to "travellers", the viral fanning out to more than 40 countries, and incubation period all fuelling fears of further contagion.
The real danger is political complacency. Failure to focus on value at risk measures that could form a false illusion of stability and control. A complete analysis of cumulative risk is missing.
lesenfant
This kind of irresponsibility is why, after 12 years, I am leaving Japan.
fillmore2
What a great plan!
before it was Abenomics with growing economy ,now it's Abecine, preventive care plus vaccine , all in one.
Unless you are sick , really sick, don't go to hospital to take away their valuable resource.
Just make sure you are really sick, I mean sick, sick, then you can go but need to call first , get your condition qualified and make sure health care person really believe you are really sick. I mean sick , sick, not just sick,
Sh1mon M4sada
This is not a defense of the government, and now that's out of the way, let's begin.
A country can only be capable of testing, quarantining or treating people according to the capacity it has built for itself. The Japanese government has been brutally honest about its capacity. It admitted to very limited testing capacity, then very limited quarantining facility, and limited isolation and treatment facility. This has all been reported with actual quotes from the minister etc.
Why are we criticising government for being honest? What the Japanese government is saying is, it's a two way street between people and government. If government by nature and capacity is lacking then people have to take up tge slack and be more cautious going about their day.
Abe can't front the cameras like Trump this morning and say USA is very prepared, the most prepared, it tops the list in the Global Health Security Index. Japan is down at 21st place behind Malaysia and Latvia overall.
In terms of dealings with pathogens Japan is down at 40th place behind Vietnam, even Kazhakstan.
Look it up, the John Hopkins Global Security Index 2019 report. Perspective....
Sh1mon M4sada
Again, let's be clear, I'm not defending government here.
If people wants top notch infrastructure in a natural disaster prone country like Japan, then pay more tax. Else, assume more responsibility for your health and wellbeing.
New Zealanders pay 15% consumption tax. Japan has only just began to pay 10%. ???
theFu
Helpful info-graphic from the CDC about mask use and facial hair:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/26/21155221/cdc-infographic-facial-hair-mask-mustache-beard-coronavirus
Soul patch is fine.
Mutton Chops are not.
daito_hak
The comparison with the flu is totally flawed. The current data put the mortality rate of the covid-19 between 1% and 4% depending of the country with an average of 2.5%. The flu has a mortality rate of 0.1%, 1 death for 1000 infected.
theFu
Better source for facial hair and mask use:
https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2017/11/02/noshave/
CDC does NOT recommend wearing a mask https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html
Bjorn Tomention
Sh1mon M4sada NZ is no shinning light, they have serious social problems , you cannot refer to NZ as a comparison while discussing this subject of virus.
Fuzzy
You want the facts? Do you consider the WHO to be a credible source of facts? Let's compare to seasonal flu...
The WHO estimated (on Jan. 23) the covid R0 to be between 1.4 and 2.5. The seasonal flu hovers around 1.3. So, covid spreads more easily than the seasonal flu.
The WHO also says the fatality rate is about 2% (17 February). The seasonal flu fatality rate is usually around 0.1%. That makes covid 20 times more deadly than the seasonal flu, and more contagious.
Posters like Burning Bush keep saying the numbers are low, but they fail to realize this thing is nowhere near over. It's just getting started. I agree panic does not help anyone. But if we all take it seriously then maybe we can avoid a disaster and minimize the impact.
daito_hak
They are not being honest, they are hypocrites. They are trying to defend their incompetence and even indifference as we all saw with the many baffling mistakes they did with handling the situation.
voiceofokinawa
Of course anyone with early symptoms will see a doctor and take tests. But will they walk to a hospital or use public transportation to avoid contact with other people? Maybe, it'd be better for health officials to visit the residence of a potential infect and administer tests and other necessary measures. But that will be almost impossible financially and practically.
So was it wise of the health authorities to let cruise ship passengers with virus-negative test results to disembark the ship and go home? Other countries, including the U.S. require returnees from the cruise ship to go through 14-day quarantine after they touched down on their homeland.
Seems a 14-day quarantine isn’t long enough, for there’s a report that an Osaka-based tour guide relapsed 23 days after she was released from a hospital recovered
Rosalind Harris
'Government guidelines say people should get tested if they have cold-like symptoms, a fever of 37.5 Celsius or extreme tiredness or breathing problems for four days or more. In the meantime, they should stay at home.'
I've had these symptoms, and through four trips to the doctor haven't been tested. Can't afford to stay at home.
smithinjapan
Sorry, but "taking a cautious approach" to the spread of a virus is not at all the same as "taking a cautious approach to doing Nothing", which is precisely what the government has done now. Even with Abe's "plan"... what are the steps he has taken? Suggesting people avoid public events. The government and the supposed decision makers are not the victim here, the people infected because of their inability to decide on anything are.
Sh1mon M4sada
But we're discussing health, particularly how to manage Covid-19.
Finally, government is saying they can't afford to test comprehensively, ie admitting it, and people are saying just do it, else you're judged as incompetent.
ian
Now this is concerning.
Sh1mon M4sada
This story is not about the Diamond Princess (no argument from me there).
This story is about why government won't test everybody. They can't afford it. Even Dr Iwata, who has broad public support said this:
"If they test everyone with light symptoms, the medical system will puncture,"
There simply is insufficient resource and infrastructure.
suomitheway
Despite all the drama, Japan still has less deaths than Italy or Iran, so that is comforting and also a little strange.
Sh1mon M4sada
NO, you pay for healthcare through levies in NZ. It might seems free, but it isn't. It's not that different to Japan.
In terms of overall tax base, Japan 10% just now, NZ 15% for years now.
ian
Considering that a big part of the population is high risk. I attribute part of that to social factors like not much talking, physical contact. Even thegenerally widespread use of facemasks.
sf2k
Since they can't test then they can't confirm that people died from it. Who knows what the real total is
Flute
Can someone (if a government people came across) just tell the government they do not have to hospitalize all the people tested positive. Everyone is aware most case bring mild symptoms. These people need to be isolated to break the contamination chain, their health monitored (filling a form over Internet x times a days, ... ) so that they can be hospitalized if their health deteriorate and treated according to the current situation (which will be for some just immune defense system boost medecine).
How and where the isolation is done, is up to the plan as long as it respect basics needs and so on (they can use that if they have trouble finding a plan squeleton: https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/pp/naccho-quarantine.pdf). There is instance of people being quarantined at home for Ebola (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cdc-quarantine-ebola-policy-idUSKBN0LN1HI20150219). So as the COVID-19 is less dangerous, the option of doing home isolation (quarantine is for people you do not know if they are ill, isolation is for people you know are ill) can be an option depending of the "home" and other concern (see NACCHO link). Government will obviously need to handle adequate communication about it (NACCHO and Reuters link).
Not testing people and letting them fend for themselves will most likely just bring a increase of cases thus increasing the number of at risk people potentially infected which are going to need extensive care.
Most people can not afford to get away from work for 4 days and more for non documented reason out of the blue. I already said that I have no problem with avoiding testing every hypocondriac which came across. But the government should also consider the situation its choice (past and present) created and are creating thus most likely review its current approach.
Sh1mon M4sada
Which is what the Hokkaido government is trying to do, limit interaction, which to me is acceptable given the circunstances.
suomitheway
Good point. Japanese are hypochondriacs by nature and have always practiced cleanliness in daily living. In fact, if I am not mistaken, Japanese started the surgical mask wearing trend decades ago before anyone else.
Ascissor
Well, yes, except for that one time when I saw someone not wash their hands properly. And that other time... And that other time...
kohakuebisu
Every little clinic in every little part of Japan does not need to be testing people already, especially not with Japanese people's penchant for going to the doctors when there is nothing wrong with them.
However, the government needs to be rolling out a testing capability across the entire country, one facility per x people within y km, and have plans in place already on how to vastly increase this as necessary. This is no joke and could be everyone in the country-level huge.
As things stand though, someone moaning because they can't get tested should be politely told to stop being melodramatic and let the doctors and nurses tend to people who are actually ill.
Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid
If they wait until one has pneumonia- the virus would have been spreading along the way before the pneumonia. If the patient has been home, the family would get contaminated. If in the hospital and the healthcare people do not treat the patient ASAP, the healthcare people looking after this patient will catch the Coronavirus as well.
I thought as soon as one feels feverish and/or has a cold, should automatically have the priority to be tested. The person is already exhibiting some symptoms. If so test and isolate ASAP.
quercetum
They thought it just a problem in Wuhan and so they thought let’s just fly them home. The first two weeks was basically a focus on China. Then came the ship and it was like a laboratory but only an experiment in treatment even though it was close enough.
I think the government now is taking this seriously for the people in the country starting from yesterday. Will it be too late?
Ah_so
Sure: https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/influenza-and-pneumonia-death-rate/?currentTimeframe=0&selectedRows=%7B%22wrapups%22:%7B%22united-states%22:%7B%7D%7D%7D&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
Death rate just over 0.1%.
I know influenza kills more, but that use because it is endemic.
cleo
Swine flu is deadly for pigs, cannot be transmitted to humans.
Most versions of avian flu are deadly to birds, but not transmittable to humans. The H5N1 strain is transmittable from birds to humans and has a high mortality rate when it does; but it is not transmitted person-to-person.
Derrick Smith
Trying to get tested is a waste at this point because they already know via China that there is no way to tell if someone has it even if they test negative. They can still have symptoms later. On top of the fact there is another flu that is also going around with close enough symptoms that was killing people in the US well before the Coronvirus was identified. It was only killing the elderly and the young. My daughter had a 101 degree fever for several days and was just allowed to go back to school and she tested negative for the flu last week. Parents that use school to dump their kids off so they can work are going to end up spreading the disease here. There are employers that were trying to scare employees into coming to work if they didn't have their doctors sign off even though people have been super sick several times over the last year.
half-hearted jumper
"China made virus"... oh, the drama.
Sneezy
While it's less fatal than the usual flu, the threat to Japanese people given the number of aged people is a big concern. The government should act to prevent the loss of life, including asking the old to stay home if at all possible. If and when a vaccine is developed, it should be distributed for free, without people paying the typical 1/3rd of the bill. The same should apply to anyone who suspects they have the virus: if they go for a viral test, they shouldn't have to pay. This will ensure the poor and vulnerable can get the treatment they need without having to worry about any costs.
WilliB
I just read that the mortality rate for the Spanish Flue was about 2 percent.... same as this Corona thing. And the Spanish Flue happened before there was mass air travel... so yes, I expect this will get worse before it gets better.
lostrune2
The stats so far from the coronavirus:
It's more contagious than the regular flu. Also, the virus could remain active on a surface for several more hours than the regular flu
The mortality rate for a regular flu is about 0.1% vs. the mortality rate for the coronavirus is about 2.3%
In addition from the coronavirus, about 15% suffer severe symptoms, while the rest (82%) suffer mild symptoms
Thus, compared to your regular flu, the coronavirus is a super-flu
BTW, the head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus got the flu ironically evident on live TV while he was speaking and downplaying it:
"Iran says official who played down coronavirus fears is infected"
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/250220201
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-VuRK8L1kg
Sh1mon M4sada
@Northernlife
What would satisfy your insecurity about the government's effort?
International experts ranked Japan 21st overall (Global Health Security Index, 40th for dealing with pathogens). That's relatively low, ie not even in the top 10.
https://www.ghsindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Global-Health-Security-Index.pdf
The Japanese government has admitted its limited capability.
Japanese experts (Dr Iwata) confirmed the limited capacity, and warned overuse could harm the system.
All the experts are saying Japan has limited capability. Would you rather be fed propaganda instead by the CCP?
Sounds to me like a lot if people here want a Cadillac system, but is only willing to pay enough tax for a Honda Civic system.
kurisupisu
Doctors don’t have medicines to effectively treat the virus.It is only the related problems, respiratory degradation etc that can be tackled.
Basically a waste of time going to hospital...
voiceofokinawa
The way tests are conducted today for ordinary coronavirus, including influenza, may not be effective for the novel coronavirus. That's why there are so many cases in which persons tested negative initially may become positive in the second test.
Is infection through the kin, throat or droplets? We want to knowthe the answer as soon as possible.
macv
I've doubled my daily intake of alcohol as a precaution.
Mr Kipling
Last year Japan had 3,400 registered death from influenza. However, these are only the cases where the doctor identified influenza as the cause. There is probably double that number again that are registered as pneumonia deaths brought on by the influenza infection. Mostly the old and those with compromised immune systems and pre existing health conditions.
Just stop the ridiculous panic, take basic health protection steps like washing your hands and get on with your lives.