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Suga's medical adviser urges tougher anti-virus measures

104 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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104 Comments

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Koike urged residents to take social and physical distancing more seriously.

Sure makes sense - but then same time you have the govt saying they see no problems in Bach casual stroll at Ginza - was it essential? What was social and physical distancing when he was in Ginza?

Rules for thee but not for me !!!!

58 ( +63 / -5 )

“The situation is like a disaster.”

"Like" a disaster?? It IS a disaster and an escalating one at that. Once again, too little too later to think about stricter measures.

27 ( +36 / -9 )

“The situation is like a disaster.”

No problem. Tokyo Disney is still open daily, with no announcements for closure.

So let's all just go over to the Magic Kingdom and all these problems will disappear!

52 ( +54 / -2 )

Just do what nearly all the other countries: get the police to enforce distancing, etc laws and regulations, with fines and arrests of those who refuse.

The argument that Japan's constitution doesn't allow authorities to order certain behavior is incorrect and just bonkers. Just yesterday, thousands of people in southwestern Japan were ordered to evacuate their homes due to the heavy rains. No constitutional issues there. They issue such orders routinely.

5 ( +29 / -24 )

Suga's medical adviser urges tougher anti-virus measures

Been hearing this since the beginning of 2020 and zero action.

Stop playing catch up, the spread is completely out of control these days.

The current higher numbers are based on a very high positive rate, meaning the real numbers must be astronomical.

At this stage only mass vaccination will solve the issue, so focus on that in order for everyone to be safe.

21 ( +30 / -9 )

press companies to have their employees work from home

Will I see that happen before I go to pension?

I don't think so.

One of my friends who could work 4 days a week at home and 1 day a week at office, is already called back to work 2 days at home and 3 days at office.

According home office, things are going in a complete different direction.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

It’s just too difficult, all these experts (not in Sugas Social group) on one side business (in Sugas Social group) on the other? A very limited mental capacity, think the group weight might win again. The best solution is to move the goal posts again and claim success, while blaming the people for being dirty, disgusting riddled filth, but go to work anyway please or my friends will spurn me. And they are the only friends I have.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

How much longer can Suga-san ignore what EVERYONE can see except him? The numbers are spiraling nationwide and the number of beds available for patients is nearly full. Stricter measures are needed at least for a short while to bring this mess under some sort of control. What measures he can implement I am not too sure, but surely now, NOW, is the time to man up and take action.

9 ( +18 / -9 )

Suga's medical adviser urges tougher anti-virus measures

Another will happen quasi-emergency?

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Its ridiculous to compare numbers of cases per 100k compared to UK and US. Japans testing efforts are pathetic compared to those countries.

28 ( +33 / -5 )

Suga has his medical advisor in one ear and his economic advisor in the other... Guess who has the loudest voice?

20 ( +22 / -2 )

Just speed up the vaccinations already! People have been more than patient dealing with your wishy-washy SoEs - everyone need to get on with their lives now.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

What we’re seeing is record numbers of people tested positive for the PCR test, not necessarily infections. The recent surge simply means the Covid-19 strains have become much less virulent so the infected are moving around instead of being bedridden.

-18 ( +8 / -26 )

Only thing Japan is smart enough to do is ban alcohol and force restaurant to close at 8 pm nothing more.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

We’ve been asked to stay at home, wear masks and all the rest for more than eighteen months now. It’s like this is never going to end.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Maybe Dr. Omi and PM Suga should sit down with a regular Joe (or regular Taro) who hasn't yet been able to get vaccinated, and watch as they try to book a shot, be that through a local clinic which doesn't have any vaccine, a mass vaccination centre which does but which fills up within half an hour of being opened, or any other method.

They won't, of course, but it might just give them a little insight.

21 ( +23 / -2 )

Suga has his medical advisor in one ear and his economic advisor in the other... Guess who has the loudest voice?

Neither. The loudest voice is that in between the two, the "I have no idea what to do and I can't be bothered to think about it" voice.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Tougher measures means bars close at 7:30pm instead of 8pm? Maybe 2 bottles of hand spray outside of the shopping centers instead of just 1?

20 ( +24 / -4 )

Omi urged the government to restrict service hours or customer numbers at grocery and deli sections of department stores and press companies to have their employees work from home. 

Isn't Omi aware that the majority of recent infectious cases have happened at home? His proposal may be ineffective or even counter-productive.

東京、家庭内感染6割 自宅療養・デルタ型でリスク拡大

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE058ZH0V00C21A8000000/

7 ( +10 / -3 )

they'll come after karaoke and bars again, as if that will do anything

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Governments and their "expert advisors" here in Japan and elsewhere have failed to be honest with us about this virus, as well as about safe, effective and cheap treatments and protections that don't involve vaccines, lockdowns and other dubious "solutions."

So why should we take anything they say with more than a grain of salt and a healthy dose of civil disobedience?

They announce rules and restrictions, but ignore them themselves because they seem to think they're special. Just look at Obama's birthday bash they other day. Another classic example of rules for thee.

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

Sadly it’s nothing that wasn’t being said 6 months ago and hasn’t been said thousands of times already.

Unfortunately the people who wield the power aren’t listening, and have shown they fundamentally don’t understand the consequences of their inaction.

The time to act was probably about 12 months ago when it was clear to see the virus was becoming a huge problem, with severe consequences, in many countries around the world. However, the governing sages in Japan, as well as a lot of other ignorant lay people pushing conspiracy theories, living with blinkers on, and firmly of the view ‘it’s no worse than the flu’, have caused the situation to get significantly worse.

Now, instead of realising that there was a dam that needed some maintenance and upgrading before it very likely broke and devastated the city near it - ‘nah, it’ll be OK, it hasn’t broke for 100 years why would it break now?’ - the dam has multiple significant cracks, and still the government doesn’t realise what will happen if the whole thing collapses.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Isn't Omi aware that the majority of recent infectious cases have happened at home? His proposal may be ineffective or even counter-productive.

This argument is not well thought out. Once the virus is in a home, it is likely to spread to all within the home. Therefore, the goal should be to prevent it getting in the home in the first place.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Constitutions and human rights don't become null and void if there's a scary virus. The government will never be able to stop disease. That's not their role. If you're afraid then stay home. The moment you accept total government control and lockdown is the moment you become a useless eater. If you don't stand up for yours and other's right to freedom within society, then you are of no use to society. Go home, and stay home.

-7 ( +13 / -20 )

I wonder how many people complaining about the government's inaction would be prepared to give up their civil liberties to combat the virus. Could the people of Tokyo cope with a one month lockdown?

7 ( +16 / -9 )

I don’t agree with my following statement but I bet sometime last year a meeting was held stating a 2% mortally rate and those in power decided it’s a acceptable amount, hence here we are.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Good lord... just vaccinate already!

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Well, I'm very sure, then, that Suga will listen. He has throughout this whole pandemic, and followed all the advice of top physicians. He might even go so far as to form a committee to talk about it.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

So what did he advise before the Olympics?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Time for strong action. Suga should look remember Abe's firm stance and take example. Why not sending the whole population 2 brands new masks ? And also 10 000 yens. This will clear the problem as it did the first time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

And what countermeasures will they ask for this time? REQUIRE businesses to close at, say, 18:00 instead of 20:00 pm? Or ban the serving of water and just serve tea instead (I know, totally crazy, unimaginable). None of the politicians want to make the move, they are just waiting to see what happens and whether someone else will make the move, who they can then dump all the responsibility on. All they do is discuss, theorize and look into things. Clowns

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Present Japan's Suga government is very similar to wartime militarism Japan. They are overestimate themselves, underestimate "enemy", disrespect logistics, never admit failure, repeat sophistry, miss timing to give up, and increasing victims

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Governments and their "expert advisors" here in Japan and elsewhere have failed to be honest with us about this virus, as well as about safe, effective and cheap treatments and protections that don't involve vaccines, lockdowns and other dubious "solutions."

Not recommending fake treatments that have been found to be useless is exactly what an honest expert should be doing, you may want to believe scammers as much as you want, but the experts have examined the evidence and found out that the "proof" of efficacy came out from false data or noise being exaggerated. The only responsible thing to do as a professional is to avoid the risks from the useless drugs and instead use what have demonstrated value, including actually effective treatments, vaccines and social distancing.

I mean, you obviously don't believe all the people working in every single institution related to health and science in the whole world is in some kind of conspiracy to hide good drugs from their own friends and family, letting them to die from COVID, right? That would be beyond ridiculous.

1 ( +13 / -12 )

everywhere is busy, most people have decided to get on with life

hope those who panic on this board are enjoying their personal holiday lockdowns.

was in fukuoka last weekend hotel was full, night pool was full.

went to Tokyo tues ~thurs, plane was prettty full was easily able to find restaurant servering past 8pn.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Restrict service hours? I lost respect when seeing that. Expand service hours to thin crowds out. One of the smartest things America did.

Two have to jam into a food store is dangerous and stupid.

I thought this guy was up on things but obviously a very low ability for common sense!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

There is no problem because it's Obon, many who are sick have returned to their home villages and cannot get tested, so the positive numbers will be nice an low again today. Great job Suga!!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Constitutions and human rights don't become null and void if there's a scary virus. The government will never be able to stop disease. That's not their role. If you're afraid then stay home. The moment you accept total government control and lockdown is the moment you become a useless eater. If you don't stand up for yours and other's right to freedom within society, then you are of no use to society. Go home, and stay home.

finally, and thank you!!

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Question: Why is only Anti-Vaxxers who refer to the drug companies as 'Big Pharma'? I am genuinely interested. Is it a derogatory term?

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

@letsberealistic: Thank you.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Question: Why is only Anti-Vaxxers who refer to the drug companies as 'Big Pharma'? I am genuinely interested. Is it a derogatory term?

At a guess, it's the "Big" that makes the difference. These people see themselves as an outside-the-box-thinking minority of independent-minded radicals, rather than what they are, which is a bunch of bored illiterates who need something to do to pass the time and make themselves feel important. So by affixing "big" to whatever it is - "tech", "government", "pharma" - they're role-playing as rebels. They probably still refer to "the man" when talking about authority; and this probably impresses their girlfriends, so they think it'll work on people who actually have brains.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Question: Why is only Anti-Vaxxers who refer to the drug companies as 'Big Pharma'? I am genuinely interested. Is it a derogatory term?

When you reduce something down to a simple label, it means you don't need to know all the facts and details in order to debate the issue at heart.

The people with the public voices can add all the conspiracy, connotations, and negativity to the subject matter. All that is left for the man on the street to do is repeat the label. They feel intelligent, but in reality they are being played by their masters.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

If people have a look at the UK Gov site for covid and choose the English death numbers only (not wales/scotland). You will see a heat map of deaths comparing those above 60 and below 60. It is claringly obvious that the risk to people below 60 is much less (not zero). The chart below has basically a flat line for deaths under 60 and a line with heavy peaks for above.

If the infections are rising but only in the younger generations (which JT daily numbers indicate quite well) then the disaster will NOT happen as predicted. Yes these young folk are a danger to the older ones but in reality most people stick quite closely with their own generations.

If the government wants to prevent deaths its message should be protect your gran and grandad and be careful when you visit. Masks, social distancing, not singing, not drinking do nothing but make peoples lives miserable.

As I live in Osaka and my city is self contained I have spent most of the year close to home with the odd trip into town just for stress relief (non-executive kind). I think most sensible people have done the same. I only really care about the numbers in my area and so far since the beginning of this year there have only been 800 cases in my area (low-testing numbers I know are a factor). In Osaka since January only 30 people under 50 have died and only 280 people under 50 have been ICU'd. April and May being the bad months. This month only 1 person under 50 has died and 36 ICU'd.

Personally because of the delays from infections rates to ICU to deaths I think we should all wait to see what next month is like before getting too worried.

As for old people dying at home rather than hospital I think that is what most of them prefer. My father-in-law cried when he knew he would never go home again. He even wanted me to help him escape hospital so he could die at home. When my mother-in-law died in hospital we took her dead body to rest for one night and when my father-in-law died the funeral service drove by his house and stopped for us out of respect. My own father died at home with a morphine drip because that was his wish. To me although these old people may have died sooner than they would have. Being able to be in their own home at the end was probably a comfort to them and their family.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Yes these young folk are a danger to the older ones but in reality most people stick quite closely with their own generations.

Fingers crossed for the ongoing university summer holiday and upcoming Obon weekend then - times when the young people will traditionally spend time at the family home with their parents and grandparents.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Omi-sensei would like to limit and shorten hours for food stores.

Absolutely brilliant man.

Deserves a Pulitzer Prize.

His idea is that if you jam a zillion people together rather than spreading them out over say 16 hours to one hour opening per day, the Zoological Herd immunity will take effect.

I am in awe at his brilliance.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@ Nat: My parents passed in-the last year. Did it at home. One of my sisters is a critical care nurse. She did the hospice routine and gave them their wishes to pass at home overlooking their expansive lake in Florida.

I understand what you went through.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

“If the infections continue to surge at the current pace, we won’t be able to save the lives that can be saved,” Dr Shigeru Omi said at a news conference. “The situation is like a disaster.”

oh really? And how much do they pay this guy?

in fact, maybe he deserves a raise?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

My friend told me that at work there were some employees with Covid-19!

There goes work from home.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

More than 1 person out of 1 000 in Japan is hospitalized because of Covid. And this is not going to improve soon. What a disaster for the medical system.

Winter is not coming, winter has arrived !

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Governments and their "expert advisors" here in Japan and elsewhere have failed to be honest with us about this virus, as well as about safe, effective and cheap treatments and protections that don't involve vaccines, lockdowns and other dubious "solutions."

Yes! There is growing solid evidence world-wide of the effectiveness of these very safe drugs at reducing cases and deaths. Vaccines have been very disappointing at reducing the spread.

Considering Shigeru Omi’s background, I suspect he will continue to push for vaccines and stay away from these very safe and effective drugs.

He previously served as Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office for the World Health Organization. He has been a member of the World Health Organization Executive Board since 2013.

What I found very encouraging is that a doctor, who has been successfully treating Covid19 patients, has been showing up on Japanese TV, and they are actually allowing him to talk (unlike the West). I guess there is hope after all that they will start treating with Ivermectin.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

That guy is 100% immune against all advice. lol

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

“The situation is like a disaster.”

No the situation is already a disaster! We all know the current situation could of been avoided had the government taken this seriously

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@Tristis Quepe: Ah - The correct answer! Thank you.

@vic.M - - Thanks for that, so, pretty much all the same 'possible' side effects as popping a Paracetamol - or any of the various antibiotics doled out on a very regular basis.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

another 10man please

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Nothing will be done, he is just an advisor and the government is under no obligation to take any advice.

They cannot even get the government to stop restricting access to vaccines to preserve market for domestic vaccines next year.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Suga & company, THIS is what you REAP when you DONT do whats RIGHT & you go ahead with the games during a PANDEMIC!!

The govt & ioc are PRIMARILY responsible for what is happening right now, way way beyond CRMINAL!!

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Whilst I agree with Omi's general sentiment, what on earth is the point in restricting the hours of grocery stores? I'll avoid restaurants if we're all going to do that, but if I'm eating at home then I'll be wanting to go to the grocery store, and the less crowded it is the better. This is the same nonsense that saw the geniuses in charge as JR to reduce the number of trains.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@syzyguy

Lockdowns in Europe are quite light now and many countries do not have in place. Please stop saying the contrary !

The world will live with the virus for years and years. Countries must ensure that their medical system can deal with the people that is sick.

The point here is Japan is that the medical system will soon not be able to work correctly.

And if too many people are sick at the same time, this will damage too the economy.

No need for mask mandate here, people wears it without any constraint.

At the end, everyone in Japan will be in contact with the virus. Those who are vaccinated have less chance to be infected and especially less chance to be seriously ill. A vaccine does not protect 100%

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Yes! There is growing solid evidence world-wide of the effectiveness of these very safe drugs at reducing cases and deaths. Vaccines have been very disappointing at reducing the spread.

The opposite, the evidence points more and more towards a complete lack of effect in fighting COVID, that is why the drugs are not used, even on those countries that bet on them in times of desperation, because they have realized they did not improve anything.

The contrary to the vaccines, that are clearly preventing complications and deaths above even the wildest expectations during their development.

Considering Shigeru Omi’s background, I suspect he will continue to push for vaccines and stay away from these very safe and effective drugs.

Anybody with a scientific background would do the same, vaccines are effective and safe, HCQ and ivermectin not, proved scientifically.

I guess there is hope after all that they will start treating with Ivermectin.

At this point? you would be as right as when you predicted Japan to reach herd immunity and no more cases of COVID in the summer of last year. IT could have been a possibility before high quality data began to show the lack of efficacy of ivermectin, but now it is several months already too late to pretend to ignore the scientific evidence.

there is a common thread in that the stricter the lockdowns, the worse the living conditions become and the more people are violently lashing out.

That is getting the causal relationship completely wrong, do you also reach the conclusion that hospitals make people sick? I mean, the worse a person health becomes the more likely they are to be found in a hospital, right?

we're not out of the woods yet but as of now, i'm grateful to live in one of the few advanced countries that has been minimally affected in this global crisis. it's not perfect but it's home.

And what do you think it is considered the reason for this? deep distrust on science making people discard masks and social distancing? the opposite, even if the government manages to screw up most of the measures it puts forward the people (in general) try at least to keep their part in stopping transmission according to the advice of the experts.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

@ADK:

I have been writing this since day one of reducing hours at food stores etc. it is so so so so wrong.

Open up the hours! 24 hours a day will totally make places UN crowded.

What is going though this guys mind about reducing hours?

One of the most stupid idiotic asanine ideas I have ever heard and it is not the first time in Japan. Most of my local stores reduced hours due to Covid they wrote on their door signs. What the f is wrong with them?

There are now huge lines of down nose mask wearing jiji and baba with no clue about social distancing pushing and shoving to get in at 11am as they know the food store is shutting at 2pm

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The sad thing is that Japan had lost an year and half. Nothing learned from the other countries.

Now it's facing the same problems of the western countries faced with the first wave of march 2020.

It's ridiculous.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

@Zichi Is your country food store the size of a 1 LDK? Ours are huge and plentiful and they have all drastically reduced hours. People line up back to back to get I at 10 Am so they can do other errands. Luckily banks have kept their regular hours because if they reduced them, they would not be open at all.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Everywhere is facing a Delta surge. Japan vaccinated the most vulnerable just in time. This has minimized serious illness and deaths. Hopefully cases peak soon.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

One has to realize that although Japan has the resources, it has not the means to apply due measures.

Japanese accept fate. So be it.

Just brace the necessary time.

Suga and Koike have proven dozens of time by now their hopelessness.

Strong measures will never happen.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What % of the population has been vaccinated now? Weird how they don't seem to be slowing infections.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@Robert Cikki

And what countermeasures will they ask for this time?

I propose closing of public/company/store/... bathroom. People tend to relax and let their guard down there. Thus there is an increase of risk of transmission. And that will allow a economy boost thanks to the selling of adult diaper as, obviously, they will do nothing to push companies to let their staff telework (like fixing the problem of how and how much pay for telework cost). Because after all having people go to packed office, packed train&co even thought they could do the exact same job from their home (so people which actually can really not are not concerned) and telling them that is fine no problem could in no case have any effect on the current situation, right ?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Two points

1.The government has little incentive to support its citizens in Japan.

From welfare payments to vaccinations it is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

2.From foreign trips to ignoring the rules on wearing face masks.

No restrictions for them but plenty for you and I

The result is confusion and a population extremely fatigued.

Japan is a mess!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

trust the experts... who are the experts? where are they? i know the press is a mouthpiece for the experts but which names specifically are the media getting their information from? 

Do you even read the articles you are commenting on? who do you think are the people whose names are listed? random people on the street?

why haven't the experts realized they are losing the information war because no one watches tv anymore?

So that is your justification for repeating false information? Because it ends up being the opposite, confirmed information says the opposite of your beliefs, but you think is justified to propagate disinformation just because you can do it as long as nobody has to first fact check it? this only means you are aware of ways to let other people know things you know are false, hardly something worth of support.

The experts discuss the science continuously, in a wide variety of ways and forms, the only problem is that those ways tend to look negatively on people that try to use false information and those found guilty are not included in the discussions anymore, which is actually something extremely good. Because disinformation do not improve anything, so getting rid of it is what let people advance.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

trust the experts... who are the experts? where are they? i know the press is a mouthpiece for the experts but which names specifically are the media getting their information from?

Yes, trust the experts to pick and choose the "science" that will support the agenda of their backers.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

JeffLee 06:51 am

The argument that Japan's constitution doesn't allow authorities to order certain behavior is incorrect and just bonkers. 

No it's not. I have been telling people on this forum and elsewhere that forced measures are not possible and never will be for the past 18 months.

Just yesterday, thousands of people in southwestern Japan were ordered to evacuate their homes due to the heavy rains. No constitutional issues there. They issue such orders routinely.

The wording "evacuation order" does not exist as a legal term. Japanese language knows the words 避難勧告 (evacuation advisory) and 避難指示 (evacuation instruction). The latter one is often misinterpreted as "evacuation order" in English texts. There is, however, no penalty for not following an evacuation advisory/instruction and most people ignore them.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Plebs take note...one rule for the ruling class & another for us !

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Olympics for Suga's self-satisfaction spends about 7000 medical workers, it increased un-hospitalizable patients, its number were over 30 thousands at only Tokyo.

Japan's conceited PM who believed to can solve Covid-19 with only vaccination disrespects virus test or healthcare or isolation, and caused present serious situation.

Suga and ruling part LDP are optimistic to Covid-19, they have still closed the Diet even if it needs something new law.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If a Central Government is ONLY capable of making money for foriegn interests, and eating tax funded steak dinners while telling the population to ''look after themselves at home'....do we really need a Central government?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.8 in India, 37 in the United States and 41 in Britain, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Those #'s are so messed up.

Japan's test #'s are minute compared to India and...well, the rest of the world pretty much.

They do not even include positives taken at many clinics nationwide and include them in their reported and published stats.

Using flawed #'s leads to flawed assumptions and conclusions

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Plebs take note...one rule for the ruling class & another for us !

Rules are for everybody. It's up to you whether to follow or not. I chose not to follow them.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Everywhere is facing a Delta surge. Japan vaccinated the most vulnerable just in time. This has minimized serious illness and deaths. Hopefully cases peak soon.

Not everywhere is facing a surge, and the seriousness of the surge tends to reflect that government's response to it. Effective responses usually limit the surge, ineffective ones tend to let it run rip.

Japan promised to vaccinate people with underlying conditions, but then failed to honour the promise. Therefore the vulnerable under-65's, and there are millions of them, have sometimes found themselves in the queue behind high-school students, because sports days, university entrance applications, job-hunting and other such rituals of Japanese society. It's a lottery, depending on whether your local government decided to prioritise the vulnerable under-65's or not. Mine didn't, so my immunosuppressed partner had to wait his age group's turn to join the queue to get an appointment.

It has not 'minimised' serious illnesses and deaths. This is why medical advisers are saying the country is reaching a situation where if you get sick, you're on your own.

Hoping is all this government seems to be capable of. Hope away!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

joffy

We have freedom of choice in Japan

Yeah, right. Tell that to the residents of several communities in Fukushima, who were ordered to evacuate their homes 10 years ago and have never been allowed to return, apart from short visits for maintenance, due to govt orders.

How is it that Japan's laws and constitution allow lock outs, but not lock downs? Article 13 says public welfare comes before laws and regulations.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Zichi: Sorry I offended you. I thought you lived deep in the woods. Nice your stores open early and close late, but if some of the bureaucrats have their way, it will change because they are clueless and want to jam you and all your friendly neighbors into those stores all at the same time during very short hours.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Everywhere in America, facing the same situation now. In areas with largely unvaccinated populations delta cases are soaring among younger and younger people. Hospitals are becoming overloaded. Temporary facilities are being prepared. And, that’s the difference. In Japan there is no preparation of temporary hospital facilities to ease the overload. This is something the military could do easily. Although there is talk of providing oxygen and monitoring people riding it out at home or in hotels more closely. That is reassuring to hear.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The government has little incentive to support its citizens in Japan.

From welfare payments to vaccinations it is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone.

Japan is a Neo-Liberal country. Not a whole lot of compassion for the poor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, trust the experts to pick and choose the "science" that will support the agenda of their backers.

When the experts in the whole world coincide in the same conclusions this "agenda" becomes just a bad excuse to try to reject science, simply not believable.

do you even watch the news conferences the articles are based on?

Do you even read the scientific articles the people talking in the conferences base their opinions on?

In science it does not matter who is the person talking, but on what evidence is he based, if he says the same as the rest of the scientific community then he has that to support his position, you want to say he is wrong? then you have to contradict what the experts (as in the scientific institutions that back up recommendations and measures) you can't, then it is irrelevant who says the same thing. If an elementary school kid says infections are caused by microbes you would need much more than "you are just a kid" to prove him wrong.

All the medical institutions of the world coincide in saying that vaccines do work, on the other side you saying the opposite...

I think it is clear who is the one in the wrong.

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Suga's medical adviser urges tougher anti-virus measures

Of course he would. He is only looking at the medical side, so from his point of view it would be optimal if everybody lived like Bubble Boy.

He is not thinking about financial, social, societal, mental health and long term issues.

Meanwhile in the real world, management has to make a risk-reward decision, looking at all factors. Which gives a very different picture.

That is problem with being fixated on narrowly focused "experts".

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He is not thinking about financial, social, societal, mental health and long term issues.

But you are, of course, right? Guess why I for example suggest one hard lockdown (not those not working ones everywhere implemented) to finally extinguish the viruses, and do not support those ‘we can live with the virus’ statements and that jumping from one infection curve valley to the next ‘strategy’ bringing a restricted life while the peaks bring reduced ‘lockdowns’ again and again. That which has been done for almost two years now, and of course is continually done in all eternity, is obviously not working, or is it?

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