Japan to expand COVID quasi-emergency to 34 of 47 prefectures

If only bars would stop selling alcohol at night.

Albert Einstein

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Wasn’t this yesterday’s news?

No, yesterday was 32 prefectures, not 34.

Perhaps 35 tomorrow?

This whole quasi measures situation is just masking the inability and incapacity of the central government to take more decisive measures and protect us all.

The idea of let's blame and shame the restaurants and bars so we can avoid any decisions that will inconvenience any of the big sponsors to the party, is really not going to work this time.

We are all worried - Omikron is different from before and this time half measures won't stop it.

I hope something changes this time.

As long as you are vaccinated and not obese, just get on with your life. Stop worrying.

Albert Einstein

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Einstein never said that. A piece of misinformation that is commonly repeated.

Quasi-emergency as a quasi-solution to a quasi-problem by a quasi-government.

Quasi-emergency

Surely Japan is at least at a semi-emergency after 24?

Great idea. Didn't work all of the other times, but maybe this time it will. Let's beat a dead horse.

Quasi ? It’s time … no it’s past time for the jgov to change the rules and impose a hard lockdown. People have generally proven that they just don’t care. We have never had any form of a lockdown here. What many don’t understand about bars/restaurants is that when we go shopping , we’re usually in and out. But going to the bar/restaurants, people stay for an hour or more. Then while we’re locked down , ramp up testing, treatment, and educating people on basic common sense steps to further stop the spread . Such as opening doors and windows. The jgov has long recommended it but most don’t listen as they don’t understand why. Too often, too many people think that a mask is all they need when the reality is that no mask is safe in a closed environment. And before anyone starts popping too many vitamins, please consult your dr.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

Another Internet meme parroted with zero clue for determing whether it's true, but the far right do not care about truths that do not fit their tiny worldview, look at what you could learn using Yandex, or is Yandex also 'big tech' to the global far right.

https://yandex.com/search/?text=did+einstein+say+insanity&lr=10636

Please don't put a plaster when a surgery is required. Do something for morning rush hours. Please

I fully welcome this plan!

If only bars would stop selling alcohol at night.

Alcohol makes people look better, not think better.

It's not going to work! Drastic times call for drastic measures. Close the bars and restaurants, ban all gatherings of all large groups of people, limit the amount of people per train carriage and start shelling out some money to support people who are financially disadvantaged by the restrictions. Enough with the 'quasi' BS already! It didn't work last time and it's definitely not gonna work this time. A couple of weeks of inconvenience is better than months of suffering and tens of thousands of people in hospital.

20,000,000 passengers packed into commuting trains multiple times each working day, and then half that number again on their day off.

But no one allowed to drink alcohol after a randomly designated time at night.

Once again, we'll just have to wait for COMMON SENSE to finally outrun KNEE-JERK INEPT REACTIONS and catch up to REALITY. Once again....

Ok so the spread won’t stop, so you just have to slow its spread theough your nation.

All the schools and workplaces are open so we can stop pretending it won’t spread to everyone.

But its not harmful to most people so maybe we are doing more harm by being fixated on it.

It’s strange how everybody complains about the restrictions and about the virus but nobody is prepared to sacrifice anything for it. The reality is, many will sacrifice their lives to ignorance and stupidity.

Completely useless “measures” that target only bars and restaurants, while starbucks remains full of cackling moms whose kids are all in school. I hope the restaurants completely ignore these idiotic and unfair requests.

Same song; different day but always pointless and useless. J-gov should be embarrassed of themselves.

Albert Einstein

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

"Einstein never said that. A piece of misinformation that is commonly repeated"

Einstein might have not said it however I say it I and I have said it before. It is a great description for Japanese politics, insanity is electing the same party decade after decade and expecting different results every time.

Seriously, what's the point? None of these measures will do anything. We'd be better off just coming to terms with the idea that most of us will get it.

I tested positive 2 days ago. No big deal. It's like a bad cold. I'm in my 50s with normal health. I'm already feeling better today.

jam packed trains don’t look like a concern at all Kishida san?

This jgov has no idea what its doing. So pathetic.

Apparently, the pace of growth is slowing. We could be reaching the peak soon, with or without a "quasi- pseudo- emergency". The Delta variant came and went in about a month. This one seems no different.

@jderToday  10:36 am JST

Apparently, the pace of growth is slowing. We could be reaching the peak soon, with or without a "quasi- pseudo- emergency". The Delta variant came and went in about a month. This one seems no different.

I think we already passed the peak. I assume 50,000 around the country could be the highest. Now it will be starting to decrease. Just a prediction.

They make all these bridges and towers light up red to scare the virus away that supposedly only comes out after 8:00 pm.

So what good does this do? Living in Tokyo all I see is them rounding up all the military folks and keeping them on base. Meanwhile Japanese folks are going about their day as normal and their numbers are higher than they've ever been.

16 deaths a day/yesterday s stats/nationwide causing all of this?

Dismissing what those deaths might mean to friends and loved ones, How low can compassion-free right wingers go, especially those claiming they are being discriminated against, while at the same time saying the deaths and illnesses are OK because i's mainly old people, and those with underlying conditions and they were were going to die anyway.

Great idea. Didn't work all of the other times, but maybe this time it will. Let's beat a dead horse.

Still better than instituting draconian but completely ineffective medieval measures that actually increase infections, and shooting those who protest against them, like Netherlands did.

‘The resurgence of the virus has caused a shortage of test kits in some areas’

‘The pace of increase..has been slowing in some areas’

LO and L.

The pandemic of bureaucracy is at it again.

makes you wonder why they are keeping the borders closed if they are going to only have quasi measures everywhere

Japanese government and doctors are puzzled how to cope with Omicron without causing serious disruptions in the society. It is not life threatening but the virus is very infectious and large amount of people are getting infected. They cannot find the right way to live with the virus.

Japanese government and doctors are puzzled how to cope with Omicron without causing serious disruptions in the society. 

The last word here should read "economy".

The government is continually harping on night time drinking restrictions, but allowing millions upon millions to gather together on the morning rush trains.

The government can not impose a hard lock down on the trains, so they have to make it appear that it's all because of the night time crowds.

I know plenty of Japanese who think it's all a bunch of BS too!

Will the public at large be afforded the identities of the "experts", their qualifications and experience sitting on this so called advisory panel.

Plus all minutes fully published.

Enough open it all up.

No more fear mongering.

Get the jab live your life. That was the deal.

ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!

"Patients with moderate to severe symptoms have been rapidly increasing, especially among those aged 70 and over, leading to a shortage of hospital beds,"

Really? Last time I looked there 13 people in hospital in Tokyo with bad symptoms, so what shortage??

@Yubaru Today  03:56 pm JST

Japanese government and doctors are puzzled how to cope with Omicron without causing serious disruptions in the society. 

The last word here should read "economy".

*The government is continually harping on night time drinking restrictions, but allowing millions upon millions to gather together on the morning rush trains.*

The government can not impose a hard lock down on the trains, so they have to make it appear that it's all because of the night time crowds.

On Point. They need to show that they are doing something.

Does the virus become active at night that restaurants and businesses have to close down early? Sometimes you cannot help but wonder whether people are being turned into clowns by the rich elites of the WEF et al.

Omicron. Delta. The difference: Delta effects the entire respiratory system aka lungs. Omicron is basically upper respiratory aka the throat. Omicron is ten times or more infectious. Omicron effects all ages.

It is not a resurgence, it is the spread of a variant. A mutation cultivated outside Japan and spread by international travel. Certainly, by a significant number of U.S. military personnel and a select few Japanese returnees, who purposefully failed to follow protocols.

A study in Switzerland, among the entire population - the Swiss have a penchant for keeping accurate records: Fully vaccinated with booster shot: rate of infection requiring medical treatment: 0.014%. Omicron 0.027%..

In Switzerland, the study reveals the unvaccinated are akin to a disease vector, effectively spreading SARSCoV-2, especially the variant omicron.

The effectiveness of vaccination combined with a booster is key to flatlining the virus. Protocols remain effective, but practice is difficult amidst a fully packed commuter train. And inhibited in various drinking and eating establishments - which are a mainstay for certain elements of Japanese culture which are also important economically, especially to the owners. Even in those venues it is possible to engage in protocols that prevent the spread of the virus. As has been evident throughout the past two years.

Presently, in Japan, the virus has impacted schools, testament of which can be measured in schools and classrooms shutdown because of SARSCoV-2. Previously, children and youth were rarely effected, this is no longer true. Though anecdotal evidence, even when factual, does not rise to the level of science: where I teach, the senior high is closed, certain elementary classrooms are not in session, five fellow teachers located elsewhere in the prefecture have experienced school closures due to covid. The infections have been among students, not staff. The vector for transmission is expansive.

Increased awareness, that omicron is highly contagious and requires vigilance is certainly necessary and adequate response from the central government is important - this should include financial assistance to small business, many who are independently owned and operated. Same for medium size business in the same category. For larger entities, interest free loans with a forgiveness clause.

As for closing bars and restaurants at a certain hour, peak hours during the week in Japan are later than in North America and other countries. It is social and relational within a specific context. Dissimilar to 'clubbing' or various counterparts of that recreational activity. Restrictions on 'shopping' as a social activity is also pertinent.

Extremely tight regulations and enforced protocols on arriving international travellers is necessary and more than apparent. Banning international tourists until Spring would be wise.

Not 'believing' in vaccination is akin to not 'believing' in stoplights. I has nothing to do with exercise of individual right, freedom or any such, it is wedded to the common good and the underlying social compact. The central government has essentially, albeit slowly, responded without draconian measures. Which is to respect individual rights which are determined by law. And kudos to the very large majority of Japanese who adhere to protocols, act sensibly and aware. If the booster shots are administered to a large majority, SARSCoV-2 will begin o disappear in the summertime.

Libertarian, pseudo-conservative, simplistic right-wing responses by foreigners who reflect the more extreme elements of their homeland are always interesting. Typically, are completely divorced from any cultural moorings in their present circumstance in Japan. Lacking what may be deemed cultural and social sensitivity is common. Papered over with a form of social amnesia lacking in awareness of the so-called cultural baggage that impedes integrating oneself into the local and regional cultures. Oft with a certain superiority, that is thinly disguised and betrays a prejudice masked as knowledge and awareness from a very particular jingoistic viewpoint.

This is grossly exhibited by comments addressing the role and actions of the central government. The citizens of Japan are well aware of the central government and comprehend well apparent problems, with no need for outside instruction from foreigners who are simply passing thru or in context of the length and breadth of Japanese culture arrivistes at best even if well-intended.

Through various means Japan has managed to keep the numbers of infected from overwhelming the healthcare system. And considering Japan has the densest and most populated urban & metro areas in the world, the rate of infection is low and manageable. Once vaccines were available, the roll-out was efficient and quick, resulting in the highest vaccination rate in any large 'advanced' nation.

If Japan wants to ban certain categories of visitors, that is not intended as a person slight, but a reasoned cautionary. It is a pandemic. As an example, Japan has no need of foreigners from Illinois, in the USA, to open a variety store, who conjure up a protest deeming Japan has no 'right' to ban foreigners of certain categories aka themselves. Which is purely self-centered and completely neglects the actual purpose of a ban, to impede the spread of an infectious and oft deadly virus in all its variations and mutations. Such is very illustrative of foreign attitudes that reflect a very weird and queer sense of entitlement, completely contrary to the customs & social mores of the natives. It mirrors the antagonistic attitudes of foreigners that ignore the reality of SARSCoV-2 and necessary responses to stave off and end the pandemic.

Let me know when they declare quasi-pseudo-semi-hemi-demi state of emergency. The one where they advise a recommendation to urge a suggestion for people to consider taking additional steps to curb unhealthy situations after a certain time....in principle.