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Japan to extend state of emergency for 2 weeks in Tokyo area

22 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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52 critically ill in Tokyo currently, and there are only 650 hospitals. This is going to be a disaster!

8 ( +13 / -5 )

2 weeks. Not enough. But hey, the Japanese Government is intelligent. So we must robot and follow them.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

What measure do they lift if there is no measures in place? This article is confusing!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The doomsayers are out in force here already

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Be a real shame if cases increased again after Spring break

Don't worry Henry. They won't. The Gov will make sure of that by less testing.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

@Dirk

52 critically ill in Tokyo currently, and there are only 650 hospitals. This is going to be a disaster!

Only a fraction of those 650 hospitals accept covid-19 patients. 23% according to Japan Times.

Also, a quote from Nikkei:

There is no shortage of overall capacity. Japan has a total of around 900,000 hospital beds for regular patients and infectious disease cases, of which only 3% or so have been allotted to the COVID-19 response.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Japan-hospitals-slammed-after-underestimating-third-COVID-wave

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I use to think what an absurd idea? viruses activates only at night? But if you move around Osaka and Tokyo train stations or any metropolitans you would realized how small are those noisy oyajiis standing bars. Talking, laughing, drinking with all the mouth open wide, sharing food etc. Shortening hours means no more drinking after 7. No more drinking in groups. No more places to wandering around night. Once we get off from work at 6:00 (bling bling! if we do) There's no place to hang around as used to be. This might not be 100% effective but somehow brings down the number of clusters. Remember most of the clusters are either hospitals itself or bar and clubs. So implementing short business hours cuts down the latter. Forget drinking, even eat-in is not possible in such short hours.

Drinking after work is somehow became Japanese corporate culture and it will be very difficult to go against it. But I am in full support to minimize those cluster routes. However, I 'm still trying to find the logic behind the great GoToEat and GotoTravel campaign though LOL!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Cause the virus only becomes active after 8:00 p.m.

Of course it isn't. But the later the night goes on, the more likely people are to drink alcohol, perhaps to excess. This increases the likelihood that they will behave in careless or even reckless behaviour.

It's hard, I know. I want to go out. I want to go to an all-you-can-eat barbeque, or a Friday nomihodai and get messy. I haven't been to my beloved sento in months. But the fact is that, at least until the vaccine rollout gets worse, it's better to have dinner and drinks at home. We've just got to be a little more patient.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

How about focus on getting the vaccine out there rather than endlessly delaying reopening the city.

Or do they think this halfway approach works, where they don’t really implement the vaccine properly and also don’t really properly handle shutdowns, leaving Tokyo closed yet everywhere else in Japan open for business in a display of “serious consideration”.

We’ll just get a repeat of early Go To travel where all of Japan flocked to Tokyo Disneyland and stayed in hotels just outside Tokyo. Smh

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have just read in a news that some students did cancel their trip. So, was also the extension done to avoid, or at least make to refrain, all the uni students to have trips and parties.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

For two more weeks, we will keep the measure in place ... 

Sumimasen... which measure again?

Are there any measures in place currently?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Just a shame to so called developed world. Its not goverment but the people of japan who are disciplined and cooperative. And credits are taken by governers and ministers for bringing down the virus. Even god cannot save this country from dying if it keeps of getting such old and oldminded ministers.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The only emergency I have is teying to get some takeout before the shop closes at 8pm.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Quite a picture that. Could be a movie poster.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

P.Smith: "Cause the virus only becomes active after 8:00 p.m."

Exactly! But not only is it only active from 8:00 p.m. JST to when farmer's wake up, it is only active within Tokyo borders, and will allow those who simply go out after hours in other places to drink publicly FROM Tokyo to go back TO Tokyo without infecting them or others.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Damn! Two more weeks of trying to rush out of work at 6 on the dot, make the pub at 6:10 and get 50 minutes of boozing in. Still - its helping the wallet.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Today is Friday @Haaa Nemui 3:20p Quite a picture that. - looks more like the back alley exit so Shukan Shincho doesn’t get his picture.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Controlling the spread of the virus, along with progress in vaccination, is considered key for Japan as Tokyo is to host the Olympics, delayed by one year because of the virus, starting July 23.

Good job the Japanese government has been absolutely pedal to the metal in getting a large percentage of the population vaccinated as early as possible...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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