Japan on Thursday reported 233,094 coronavirus cases, a record high for the second straight day. Eighteen prefectures also recorded their highest numbers.
The Tokyo metropolitan government reported a record high 40,406 new coronavirus cases, up 11,370 from Wednesday.
Kyodo News reported that Tokyo's tally was high because it is believed to have included up to 6,000 cases from Wednesday that could not be logged due to a system error.
The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 27, up six from Wednesday, health officials said. The nationwide figure is 346, up 35 from Wednesday.
Other prefectures reporting high numbers were Osaka (24,296), Aichi (15,675), Kanagawa (15,255), Saitama (13,058), Fukuoka (12,714), Chiba (11,778), Hyogo (11,027), Hokkaido (5,676), Hokkaido (5,522), Okinawa (5,442), Kyoto (5,228), Niigata (3,247), Kagoshima (3,183), Miyagi (3,174), Ibaraki (2,969), Hiroshima (2,875), Gifu (2,783), Gunma (2,525), Miyazaki (2,416), Nagasaki (2,363), Okayama (2,434), Nagano (2,150), Tochigi (2,043) and Nara (2,033).
The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported nationwide was 114.
- External Link
- https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html
103 Comments
Newgirlintown
Whatever happened to Japan’s ‘Factor X”?
Asiaman7
Are the masks no longer working?
thepersoniamnow
Well you really don’t want to get a bad case of Covid now as things are swamped and full up. There will be less chance of being well and professionally treated if hospitals and professional medical staff are strained.
Being very masked and vaxxed doesn’t seem to stop it much when everyones working, and all kidz go to giant schools and sit there all day
jeffb
"are the masks no longer working?"
Lol!
didou
Discussions are on in Japan to classify Covid in the same range as influenza.
That will include a change in the infection disease law.
For 99%. it is less severe than the flu
dagon
Though there most likely will be no lockdowns, overworked medical staff will still be sorely tasked and under-compensated. And the economically vulnerable working zero hour contract jobs will encounter a chilling effect on their wages, as inflation hits as well.
Par for the course, the LDP response will be ineffectual grandstanding about "protecting the lives of Japanese people", lazy and minimal, and probably involve stimulus funds to cronies.
rcch
… that’s funny, because now nobody gives a s*** anymore.
Gaijinjland
I blame the rush hour trains in Tokyo. So darn crowded. Wearing a mask is pointless when you’re shoved face to face with a hundred other people.
Haaa Nemui
In my case, masks have worked 100% for me. Even when I caught Covid it was because I took my mask off and had lunch in the same small room as someone else who had already been infected and had come to work with symptoms. Masks work, but it’s not possible to wear them 100% of the time, and the virus will take advantage of that (and people wearing incorrectly).
Kobe White Bar Owner
@Asiaman7Today 07:53 am JST
Are the masks no longer working?
Haha did they ever? Abe and Also made a mistake when they said the Japanese model works!
Still seeing nemerous people driving alone wearing a mask!! Someone pls help me understand.....
Yubaru
It has already with regards to the warning levels. Also by reclassifying it, like influenza, the vaccinations will no longer be subsidized 100% by the government, and people will have to pay, like they do for the influenza shot.
Your number here is very specific and I would love to read where you got the facts regarding this.
Asiaman7
If we’re destined to catch COVID-19 whenever we take off our masks around people, does it make any sense to continue to wear masks?
antifun
The spread doesn't seem to be "curbed". The cloth masks may have a teeny tiny effect but they were never worth neither the money nor the discomfort and nor the complete alteration of social norms.
Also where's the SOE, quasi or not? Back in the days, it was being announced with only a few thousand cases (undercounted by a factor of 5 to 10 though). Inconsistent much?
vanityofvanities
Japanese are still all wearing masks and getting four time jabs but contractors are sharply increasing while in U.S. and Europe they are not putting masks and the numbers of contractors are getting smaller. Why is this?
David Brent
The biggest comorbidity for death from Covid is obesity. One reason why so many Americans are dying, while not so many Japanese are.
Haaa Nemui
It’s not destiny. It’s a fluke. It’s not whenever we’re around people. It’s when we’re around people who are infected. That’s not all the time, but at times when the infection rate is high, yes it is better to continue to wear masks.
hmdrpthk
So Japanese people do not carry any superior genes to protect them from the coronavirus, as many claimed in the early phase of the pandemic. I always have the view that data is somehow being manipulated. Who knows, the number of deaths is also a falsification of data.
kurisupisu
The sooner that everyone does get it the better as the virus will eventually stop being transmitted.
Aly Rustom
Exactly! they could easily greatly reduce the number of infections by getting people to work from home and closing down the schools and getting students to study remotely. That would make a HUGE difference.
BUT there is another factor as well...
A couple of weeks ago, the wife took the kids for an overnight stay at the inlaws. I came home tired and didn't want to cook so I thought about getting a Ramen, Gyoza and maybe a couple of beers. EVERY Ramen shop I went to was PACKED with diners on counters and tables next to each other.. I left. So I thought I would go to an Izakaya as most do ramen and gyoza although not as tasty as the ramen shops. But at least I could get a meal and a quite beer right? WRONG! The izakaya were all PACKED as well with people getting up and walking to and fro from the toilet and what have you. 0 social distancing, and its just crowded like MAD. Like the pandemic was over.
So there's your answer there. People are doing tatemae- masking up when they go to work, masking up when they go to the supermarket, Convenience store, and anywhere else during the week. THEN they get to the weekend and they let their hair and masks down and party. Then add to that the fact that the schools are open and viola.
You mean Aso? Well don't get me started- Abe and Aso are the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of Japan.
Don't bother trying- its Japan. Just Gaman
didou
It is the quote of an expert in the J news.
I can not certify the figure, but personally, and for people around me, it was less severe than the flu with this Omicron
mountaingrill
I am on my 5th day of Covid. In my expereince the symptoms of this variant are worse than the flu and last longer. It is highly transmissable and my family now has it too. The problem is getting tested if you have a fever. There are a limited number of hospitals locally that will accept patients with a temperature. You have to call first thing in the morning each day to see if you can get a test - and in my expereince all the places have gone within 5 minutes. I dread to think what would happen if anyone becomes very seriously ill.
Asiaman7
@Haaa Nemui
And that “fluke” occurred 233,094 times yesterday?
Readyfortakeoff
oh YES, Here he is again. The poster that called Japanese people Mindless robots and Sheep. Yesterday on this website. He admitted he called Japanese people sheep and mindless robots and wrote a stupid justification for his racism. Moreover, he called another poster a sheep-a violation of the rules. Yet, here he is again, bashing japan as usual.
Dont bother trying, just a racist poster who calls Japanese people sheepo and Mindless robots.
didou
@mountaingrill
My local hospital, which is public, received patients without reservation, but had to go before 11am. It depends on where we live and the hospital/clinic.
My first symptom was an unsignificant sore throat and runny nose, and I felt tired. But it is not something that would bring to the hospital. Even the light fever. If it was not Covid, I would have let it go in the first place.
As many of the first symptoms are lights and not Covid specific, just a banal sore throat, many transmit it .
Readyfortakeoff
Time for an SOE and shut the borders.
Readyfortakeoff
Japan opened the borders thats what happened.
Readyfortakeoff
Where are the posters who said Japan should stop wearing masks and let in tourists?
Sister Jane
For Propaganda purposes, case numbers from a highly flawed test are very useful for control, so all useful idiots please get your jab and don't forget to wear your mask. When they get you on your digital money and you find yourself worrying about your Carbon Credits don't forget to wear your mask to cut down on the Carbon. Please stop eating all that meat and fish, save the planet. As for me I'll comply as soon as TPTB get rid of their private jets and Beach Front Property, because then I'll know the sea level is really rising. As long as useful idiots comply TPTB will continue to make you jump through their hoops. So watch TV watch as the cases rise and soon the Carbon in the air will get you, especially if you keep wearing that mask. Or you can turn off the TV, stop listening to the authorities and live your life, be happy, peace.
Sanjinosebleed
So with the highest case numbers in the WORLD and borders still closed and masks still on your post seems a tad silly.....
CaptDingleheimer
Looks like it might finally blow up. Good it will help with herd immunity. The economic effects if these zero Covid aims are unsustainable and unreasonable. Look at China; what are they gonna do? Keep everything buttoned up tight like that indefinitely?
painkiller
Japan reports 233,094 coronavirus cases; record high 40,406 for Tokyo
These numbers are especially troubling, as the real number of cases is considerably higher, and the deaths are also not reported accurately because Japan does not count Covid-related deaths the same way more transparent countries like the US does.
With a complacent government for the past two years in Japan, whatever approach it thought is implemented was not sustainable, as noted by global experts, and it is clear how places like Macau, and China with their zero covid policies, are strategies that have a longer positive effect, according to the results, and international experts.
rcch
Except of course the infected and their families; they give a s**. …didn’t wanna sound insensitive; just stating facts – There’s no SOE, no social distancing anymore, we barely hear the news on TV, kids keep doing their business as usual, salarymen keep doing their business as usual / packed trains. The only thing is masks; people keep wearing masks because of social pressure (masks work btw), ( but lately I’m seeing a lot of people without masks (maybe because of what the “brilliant” J-government said?). ) I think people in general are being fooled by the “weaker variant” *talk; no, this is still dangerous. I’m not saying you need to act like it’s the end of the world; just wear your masks and be careful. Stay safe(!)
Haaa Nemui
Yes. Like I said, when the infection rate is high, it is better to continue wearing a mask. When I am out, commuting on the trains, I see dozens of people being careless, not covering their mouth and nose if they are even wearing a mask at all. The virus takes advantage of that.
Haaa Nemui
And I'm commuting about 2 hours every day.
AgentX
All the hypochondriacs are armed with a fresh news article hot off the propaganda press. Relax, people! If COVID was as bad as you have very vocally purported since 2020 there would be corpses on the street by now. Sheesh!
Jbigs
Let's be honest, covid articles get clicks and comments, the more cases, deaths, doom and gloom, the more engaged we are. From my experience in the real world, on the ground in Tokyo during the worst phase of the pandemic, everything felt exactly the same as pre covid, I would not know there is a pandemic if I didn't read the news. A headline/story "everything is normal in Japan" does not really get clicks/comments.
It's up to us really to decide if we are triggered by the news or just get on with our lives as everyone else is.
Readyfortakeoff
Whats wrong gaijin can't take a punch?
Nihon Tora
Probably more a comment on Japanese culture rather than race. Japanese do that and worse all the time without even giving it a second thought, so I think most people won’t have much sympathy there.
qazwsx
The numbers are high compared to the rest of the world because the rest of the world stopped counting.
Certainly this new variant is less deadly than prior variants, but it’s also much more virulent. The real worry is not so much people catching this variant and dying, it’s people catching this variant which then can mutate into a more deadly form.
every time the virus enters a new person, there is the possibility of mutation. That is the real threat.
Nemo
Masks work to reduce the spread of the virus in crowded areas when worn properly.
People who won't wear them because they are not absolutely fool-proof or won't wear them properly because they are uncomfortable are no just unintelligent, they are inconsiderate irresponsible members of an interconnected society who scream about rights while ignoring responsibilities in an interconnected society.
Aly Rustom
Seems to me that YOU believe that Japanese people are robots and sheep and THAT'S why it upsets you so much LOL
Aly Rustom
Come on over and punch me little sheep.
腰抜
Gareth Joyce
Zero chance of this country fully opening borders by years end....such a shame.
Readyfortakeoff
Shut up already with the Gaijin bashing of Japan!
You just supported the point
You are correct I did. Funny that you mention my post but you did not mention this:
OMG, shut up already with your typical japanese whiney racist passive-aggressive crap.
My point is simple. Gaijins bash Japan with out mercy. But when we Japanese try to respond our posts are removed and our accounts. Whilst gaijins are allowed to call Japanese people all sorts of nasty things without nothing happening to them!
tottenhaminremnants
Aly,
Heard of people "getting their violins out" at sad news, but your VIOLA, too?!
Aly Rustom
It means there you go
Readyfortakeoff
Oh yes, the gaijins answer to all problems. Violence. This is the reason, Why Japan should keep gaijins out. You just made my point again.
Aly Rustom
You huffed up your chest and said we can't take a punch. Then when we invite YOU to punch you escape and call us violent.
腰抜羊
Readyfortakeoff
Yet another racist comment.
Aly Rustom
Ever heard the term fight fire with fire?
When YOU spread racism toward others, racism comes back to YOU.
Lesson for life
Sanjinosebleed
Vaccines not working...
Masks not working...
Closed borders not working...
Time to open up and move on! Luckily it's just the flu now!
Nemo
Um, Mods?
Are you on the longest smoke break in JT history?
Did you say "Screw it" and start day-drinking early? (Half-jealous as I have gone dry and half-understanding)
Elementary School yard taunting and juvenile invitations to engage in a dust-up not worthy of moderation?
Aly Rustom
Don't get your panties in a bunch. They're just waiting for this to finish and then they'll delete it. You'll get used to JT moderation style once you've been here a little longer.
CaptDingleheimer
If "sheep" is in the vernacular meaning people who blindly follow what the crowd is doing without applying their own critical thinking to why they're doing it, then that moniker applies quite well to Japanese people. Sorry.
dan
People at the mountains wearing masks.
People in their private cars wearing masks.
People on quiet streets wearing masks.
In 38 degree heat...wearing masks.
966,000 cases of COVID for the week.
Let's do away with the masks outside for goodness sake !!!
Brian William Meissner
Someone here mentioned corpses in the streets….. I saw an old man collapsed in the street last week, ambulance came and after the ambulance arrived it sat in the car park for at least 30 mins with the guy inside, probably calling around to hospitals with constant rejections.
Aly Rustom
Exactly! And as I said above, the reason he has a problem with being called sheep and keeps bringing it up EVERY TIME he posts, is deep down inside, HE BELIEVES IT. So its hitting a raw nerve for him. If I had said something that was clearly untrue about how people behave here he wouldn't have gotten so upset. But deep down inside HE knows that Japanese people (with some exceptions) blindly follow what the crowd is doing without thinking to why they're doing it.
And THAT'S why he's furious
Brian William Meissner
All I’m saying about long Covid people is when you go out and decide to take a risk take long Covid into your risk assessment. Heard immunity is also a joke. People have had Covid multiple times since the beginning of the pandemic.
Aly Rustom
That's a good point Brian. Many people here look at it as a 0 sum game. Either you die of Covid or you don't.
No one is talking about the effects of long covid or if getting covid might exacerbate a preexisting condition that might kill you in a few months or years. We just don't know, and its not a 0 sum game.
Nemo
A) I'd have to be wearing some for them to bunch.
B) As I have been here ("here" being Japan) since September 1990, how much longer before I achieve your Zen-level of wisdom?
tottenhaminremnants
Ali, "Voila" is the (French) word.
Viola, as you wrote, is an instrument...
Haaa Nemui
You’re not wrong, but at the same time, I travel on the trains for two hours every day, minimum, and I am completely certain that I would have come across many infected people, probably daily, and the only time I have been infected was when my coworker came to work thinking he had only a cold, and came into the room when I had taken my mask off. So if I had been wearing my mask at that time, I am sure I would have been protected.
Jimizo
What hypochondriacs?
The vaccines/masks don’t work crowd are by far the most hysterical bunch. Just not stop bawling.
Impossible to get them to relax.
I think their parents will need a mop to clean up the mess.
Aly Rustom
Sorry I don't speak French. I just kiss that way.
So you're saying you don't wear underwear.. too much info there.
Who knows? Some people just never get it. But its ok
Don't worry about it
Aly Rustom
関係ない。I'm talking about how long you've been posting here on JT
Rodney
yes. 1.2 billion are thrown into the sea, so yes they are working, unfortunately for a negative effect.
daito_hak
Yeah sure but that's exactly why they are stupidly wearing a mask all the time even in crazy heat. For what result? Higher positives cases than for example countries in Europe where the mask was abandoned in spring.
I don't understand what you are bitching about really. You claim without any scientific background that school should be closed and complained that izakayas are packed with people. But I mean why should they close the school at this point and why izakatas should not be packed with people? Schools are open, restaurants, bars, clubs and what have you are packed with people everywhere around the world.
You are just falling in the hysteria and somehow come up with contradicting statements. Just look at the numbers, there are way more positives cases now with really little impact. 346 with severe symptoms is a very low number in fact lower than other countries during their pic. It's ok, that's life. There is no need for drastic measures that not only have shown to be infective in the long run but incredibly damaging for the society.
Rodney
Herd immunity is the only effective remedy I m afraid. I just finished my four day stint, feel much better than before I got it, thank you Netflix.
Aly Rustom
Tell me, what scientific background do YOU have? HUH? Exactly.
Because there is a SURGE in Cases GENIUS! DUH!
justasking
346 severe means dying.
canigetawhatwhat
"experts" on the news called 50k about 2 weeks ago. Looks like it's all going according to plan!
Aly Rustom
exactly. Some of those geniuses still don't get it.
Aly Rustom
Of course it will.
rcch
Some posters in this comment section need to know the meaning of tolerance and respect.
Nemo
So more than 12 years on and off under one guise or another?
What ever you can do to avoid being called out on your childish rhetoric, eh?
painkiller
NorthernlifeToday 10:18 am JST
Maybe ask if your wife is interested in China, if that is on your bucket list?
Of course, you aren't making the conclusion that just because one country does something better than another, anyone pointing out that fact wants to go live there?
I think wine from Moldova is better than Japan's--but I am not thinking of moving to Moldova. Or, what do you think? Have you tried their wine?
I understand, which is why I wonder why you brought up the subject here of Japan and lockdowns.
Sounds like an every man for himself scenario.
Well, very troubling to hear that news.
Well, yeah-- I am wondering why if someone expresses an opinion based on fact about a country, that means to you that person should want to go live there.
Aly Rustom
and yet in spite of that time you still don't get how the moderators do things?? Like I said, some people never learn.
Whatever. I see you going on and on with other posters on other threads making extremely childish remarks.
Maybe you should look in the mirror first.
And at least I have the balls to post under my real name
daito_hak
I have a PhD in geophysical and computational fluid dynamics and high performance computing. I work now in developing new gen high performance solutions for atmospheric fluid dynamics simulation and modeling. Thanks for asking
You are not replying to my point as always but I am used for that. And there was a surge also in Europe. France had for example a little more than 200,000 positive cases a few days ago.
Aly Rustom
NONE of which has anything to do with viruses. So you are no more qualified than I am to talk about virology.
thanks for establishing that
therougou
Worked for me for 3 years until I had to go on a plane full of non-masking foreign adults. My kid was masked but got it and passed it on to me.
Nemo
Congrats on what I am sure are very reasonably sized testicles.
I used to do that too. Then I got doxxed by one of our lot. Wait long enough and it will happen to you too.
Bad judgement does not a hero make, Aly.
But keep on with the huffing and the puffing.
I think we have an accurate measure of you.
Aly Rustom
I replied to your point. YOU asked
And my answer was because there is a surge in cases.
So what? Look at the number of deaths in Europe! Hardly a good model to follow!
Raw Beer
Yes! I see this latest wave as an efficient mass vaccination program, using a live attenuated virus. It has some mild adverse effects for some, but it will give us longer lasting immunity, not just a couple of months of reduced symptoms.
Japan does not have the same financial incentive to count as a Covid death any death of a person that happens to test positive.
Aly Rustom
Ok fine. Then how about this. You contact me directly through facebook and we can have a meaningful argument and discussion.
I will NEVER dox you out. I give you my word.
Contact me on Facebook and lets talk. I'm especially interested in Business Discussion with you
25psot
but, but you can't have brain for electronics and viruses same time..
Aly Rustom
Well Said, my friend!
25psot
this because vaccili disable too many CD8 T cells..
painkiller
NorthernlifeToday 11:00 am JST
Thanks--I guess you are having difficulty clearly expressing what you want to say.
So, of course as I wrote, even you can go to China and live there. So why did you choose "China"? Why not Romania? What was your motivation? That is a topic not relevant to my original comment, so I am wondering how come you came up with that off-topic issue? It is quite intriguing though.
Aly Rustom
You cherrypick articles and that has been pointed out by various posters to U before.
Because you do.
Funny, YOU have no background in virology and yet claim to know more than others on this site. You're full of it.
Likewise .
Seven
Wow...these comments!
You have been divided, now you are being conquered.
Aly Rustom
Here
Over half of Japan pathologists' requests for postmortem coronavirus tests rejected: survey - The Mainichi
William Mirrielees
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