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Tokyo reports 1,278 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 4,883

63 Comments

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Tuesday reported 1,278 new cases of the coronavirus. It was the second highest daily figure so far after 1,337 cases were reported on Dec 31.

The number is the result of 4,985 tests conducted on Jan 2.

The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 64,752.

By age group, the most cases are people in their 20s (356), followed by 256 in their 30s, 205 in their 40s, 163 in their 50s and 72 in their 60s. Ninety-five cases were younger than 20.

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 111, up three from Monday, health officials said.

Nationwide, the number of reported cases was 4,883. After Tokyo, the prefectures with the most cases were Kanagawa (622), Osaka (394), Saitama (369), Chiba (261), Hyogo (222), Fukuoka (187), Tochigi (111), Kyoto (102), Gifu (98), Hokkaido (79), Hiroshima (77), Ibaraki (67), Nagasaki (55), Okayama (51), Okinawa (53) and Kumamoto (49).

Forty-eight coronavirus-related deaths were reported.

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63 Comments
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Stay safe.

7 ( +19 / -12 )

Well we all know this number is laughably low. Multiply that by about 10 and we're closer to the truth.

34 ( +47 / -13 )

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 111, up three from Monday, health officials said.

While this is terrible for the people concerned, it doesn't justify a SoE.

-18 ( +18 / -36 )

Well we all know this number is laughably low. Multiply that by about 10 and we're closer to the truth.

How are these unoffical numbers being gathered and tallied?

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

Bernard MarxToday  03:08 pm JST

Well we all know this number is laughably low. Multiply that by about 10 and we're closer to the truth.

Yep, the true figure would shrink the percentage of ill/seriously ill people/deaths even further.

-15 ( +16 / -31 )

@Reckless

Thankfully winter in Tokyo has been very mild so far and there are opportunities to get fresh air. Things may get worse as it gets colder and folks are stuck indoors all day.

Have you tried opening a window, mate?

18 ( +27 / -9 )

wonder if the Olympics will happen ...

2 ( +12 / -10 )

The government’s plan of hoping it goes away doesn’t seem to be working.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

New cases will come from abroad from my experience. At Narita airport Sunday I was mistakenly asked which hotel I had reserved (from a list). I had to INSIST I was to be taken to the isolation hotel (Toyoko Inn) as coming from the U.K. I could easily have flounced out of the airport- albeit with an (initial) negative COVID result.

8 ( +19 / -11 )

tottenhaminremnants

That easy eh?? wow ...

12 ( +17 / -5 )

With zero information on tracing and tracking and informing the public on areas/locations where infected people have spent time in recent days.

It's unbelievable to think that in Sydney a Japanese invention called the QR code is being used to record names and contacts of those visiting clubs, pubs, sports events etc..

People can then be reached later, get themselves tested or Isolate if necessary.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

@jojo

yes, and with restrictions coming through on a state (U.S) basis or province (Canada) basis (according to the information Immigration gave me), staff will be confused.

Also the pre-flight COVID- free “certificate” can be relatively easily faked

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@kyronstavic

Yep, the true figure would shrink the percentage of ill/seriously ill people/deaths even further.

Yes, indeed. The number of people dead or with serious symptoms will remain while the recognized number of cases will increase, in this case by the theorized ten-times amount. So the ratio of dead/seriously ill to total cases will, in turn, go down. Not sure why this was downvoted.

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

@kyronstavic

While this is terrible for the people concerned, it doesn't justify a SoE.

Let me give you practical and real-life example to you based on the actual situation.

1) Spring 2020

Restaurant owner friend in Osaka, closed his restaurant mostly and operated half-day during weekdays at first SoE, he received benefit from the government, his landlord was empathetic and didn't ask for a rent 1/5 month because it's SoE. Shotengai association supported each other, so he could paid minimum amount to his staff by decreasing other operational costs. Gladly, he survived.

2) End Autumn 2020 to this day

Same restaurant owner friend in Osaka, unofficially local governor asked him to close his restaurant after 8pm, as he respecting to his local city, he closed everyday although its his peak time to receive his guests. Landowner asked the rent each month fully because there is no official SoE, Shotengai association didn't help each other because there is no official SoE, he needed to open everyday to dice to try his luck and to pay salary to his staff but there weren't enough amount of customers, because they have been asked to not to eat-out unofficially, he couldn't minimize his operational costs, there was no reasonable amount of support from the government, and at the end he needed to fire one of his staff. Possibly he will not survive, if this continue until spring, or he doesn't take any loan by himself until spring.

15 ( +21 / -6 )

The more people you randomly check, the lower the percentage of cases and severe cases there will be.

-16 ( +8 / -24 )

@SandyBeachHeaven, you don't need random testing for 10x higher testing and numbers of positive corona patients; in most EU counties you can get tested (for free (big difference)) when you only have the slightest symptoms or feel unwell. That is one of the reasons why testing in Japan is so low; people are discouraged to get a test. It is only free if you really need it, if you are really sick, or in some cases if you donate blood (which is just ridiculous).

13 ( +17 / -4 )

@Reckless - Always do my friend. Masks getting more funky by the day. Paul Smith just launched.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

RickyC

I do sympathise with your friend's plight, as I have my own small business as well. Not a restaurant, though. My income was hit as well but here was nothing substantial from my chamber of commerce (I'm a member) to subsidise my income during that period, so I think he was pretty lucky, and I'm glad he got through it.

Thing is, the government, and especially the media, were whipping up panic last time around. We now know a lot more about this virus, especially who is most affected, and there are some treatments and probably a safe vaccine coming soon. The problem with a blanket SoE is that it slams the brakes on a recovery instead of targeting the people most vulnerable and letting others get on with their lives. Other countries with high population densities have shown lockdowns don't work and the virus will spread no matter what.

-7 ( +13 / -20 )

also - @Reckless: Totally agree. At this point one should assume you have come into contact with the virus and will be infected. It is literally everywhere. The only way to stay safe is complete self isolation from this point forward. Whatever the number of infections reported it is safe to multiply that by 10 or 15 times.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

@Reckless

You either already had it or should expect to get it.

With exactly this thinking, I am living my daily life.

No.1 Probably I had it already without symptoms. Maybe I have already imunity.

No.2 Probably I will get it some day.

But because I am carefull about No.2, I am doing every day my best possible personal prevention.

But best personal prevention for me means NOT to lock myself in my house for 24 hours and never go out anymore.

You can live your daily life even Corona is around you.

But you should do your best personal prevention.

-12 ( +13 / -25 )

@kyronstavic

Your point of the government & especially the media whipping up a panic frenzy is spot on.

This fear factor in the public’s mind has a worse affect on business than a SoE

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

If they declare another SOE, I hope to god they don't close off all the rivers, hiking and beach parking lots like they did last time. People were urged not to hike, surf, or kayak.

They're really the only places aside from home that I feel 100% free from getting infected.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

This is a great battle between the virus and human beings. The virus wants to wipe out human beings from the earth. They are angry we became arrogant and destroyed the nature. Glory of human beings cannot last forever. Everything has its time.

-14 ( +7 / -21 )

Yep, the true figure would shrink the percentage of ill/seriously ill people/deaths even further.

Yes, while, somehow, serious pneumonia cases would increase ... but trust the gov, it's not related ...

4 ( +8 / -4 )

By age group, the most cases are people in their 20s (356), followed by 256 in their 30s, 205 in their 40s, 163 in their 50s and 72 in their 60s. Ninety-five cases were younger than 20.

And what about the remaining 206 to maker it up to 1278?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Thumbs up to Speed.

We were removing the no surfing signs down at the beach.

I do have issues with mask less runners panting, sweating, and rubbing elbows with ME! I tell them to get in the street with the bike riders. Very frustrating with those selfish people.

-18 ( +4 / -22 )

@ Tamanegi

Totally agree

This QR code system has been implemented in Singapore and every shop, mall, restaurant etc has one.

this is one of the reasons why Singapore is all but Covid free. The current cases are all imported who had been quarantined for 2 weeks upon arrival

0 ( +8 / -8 )

tooheysnewToday  04:32 pm JST

@kyronstavic

Your point of the government & especially the media whipping up a panic frenzy is spot on.

This fear factor in the public’s mind has a worse affect on business than a SoE

Saw the TV at lunchtime, and they were getting all excited about how scary everything was. It was the same muppets who did that silly "kore he pen desk/this is a pen" thing a couple of months ago with the tissue to show how Japanese was a safer language than English. NHK is almost as bad - all their interviews on the street are of people saying how scary the situation is. Not once have I seen any who have a different view, even though I know Japanese who think its overblown.

Glad I don't pay NHK, just for that.

0 ( +15 / -15 )

I really don't get why so many people are downvoting @monty. There will be no hard lockdown in Tokyo - so both Reckless and Monty are both correct. You've either had it or almost certainly be exposed now unless you completely self isolate. Its pointless bleating about government inaction/contact tracing/QR code tracking - the time for this has long passed. All that is left that could be done is to shield the over 70's, fast track vaccine approval (unlikely) so they can have it as soon as possible. Rest of us have to move on and accept the inevitable.

-5 ( +14 / -19 )

Hey Suga........Whats up? Just sleep on it some more and wait for the 2000 mark

Guys, again ... 4985 tests. I understand your point but i guarantee you that the "2000 mark" was reached a long time ago! Just because they downplay the outbreak with confirming these ridiculous low numbers doesn't mean there are not more cases! A 1,337/4,985 ratio is alarming to say the least and the government is still "considering" a "state of emergency" measure, what a bad joke in my opinion!

9 ( +13 / -4 )

I wonder if this is just due to backlog as yesterday was an oddly low number

I would be very happy if the virus started to peter out like it has in Osaka: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14080878 - the governor asked businesses in 2 wards out of 24 to close at 9 as well! Everyone could just go to other places, seemed meaningless

The covid deaths in Tokyo have been very low in the past few days. But I don't know whether this is real or late reporting due to the holidays.

https://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/iryo/kansen/shibou.html

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Very worrying. Stay safe, everyone.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

I don't think a state of emergency is going to have much of an effect. The virus is too widespread. But what appalls me are the numbers of infected cases who are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. I bet these age groups don't watch news on TV, their mobile phones or read papers. But they probably know that if they do get the virus, it'll go away after about two weeks, which is true.

The figure that concerns me the most is the number o seriously ill people requiring hospitalization. That number is going up.

In any case, we have no choice but to try an SOE again. But I'm glad schools won't be closed. Children need to be in the classroom with their classmates. Young kids at home can't pay attention online for very long and teens tend to lose interest, too. And for parents trying to work at home, it's a nightmare, especially if there aren't computers or work spaces in a 2LDK.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

Is there any relevant info on the new variant that those innovative Brits cooked up? By all accounts it seems to be quite a mover and could cause big problems in urban Japan. I'd heard that a few cases were detected at airports a few days ago but no more since then.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

7 Day Average Deaths per day:

Nov 5: 8

Dec 5: 30

Jan 5: 50

The usual daily commentators here:

Deaths arent going up. Its just the flu. Im not locking down for noone.

Your arguments have been conclusively proven wrong. You have no credibility.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Well we all know this number is laughably low. Multiply that by about 10 and we're closer to the truth.

In the Philippines, the Chinese health authority estimated that at least 50% of the population have been infected. I know that most people here have an anti-China boner but their estimate is close to the truth.

Japan should be somewhat comparable.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

The show must go on!

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

The only encouraging number I see in this story is for Hokkaido. The number of infections there finally seems to be on a downward trend.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Holly Molly! The number are in the 1000s I am looking forward to the State of the emergency lock down that has zero enforcement so I can continue to work from home. Trust me its better to be at home than on the trains playing Russian roulette.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

And what about the remaining 206 to maker it up to 1278?

Presumably that would be the over 70 group, which for some reason aren’t listed.

Moderator: Please click on the live link to see those details.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

20’s always contributes to the highest number for a reason. Just look at the behavior of some University students ( in Takadanobaba / Shinjuku ) and you’ll know exactly why. These University students are super spreaders yet the Government old farce can’t get it into their thick brains and do something about it! As the Japan times highlights that the next State of Emergency will lack tooth as there seems to be nothing concrete in the way it will be implemented! So

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

What many fail to recognize is that the accuracy of the PCR test itself is dubious. As has been reported elsewhere, it is prone to a significant percentage of false positive results and has been identified by the creators of the test as NOT a reliable diagnostic tool.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I would be very happy if the virus started to peter out like it has in Osaka:

Have you checked the number of test performed in Osaka, it is easy to to keep numbers down by reducing the number of tests.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The only encouraging number I see in this story is for Hokkaido. The number of infections there finally seems to be on a downward trend.

I will look at the number of tests before drawing conclusion. Another good indicator is the number of calls by those with fever.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Here in Hiroshima all bars restaurants have been closed or open to 8 and daily numbers have halfed in three weeks. The rate per 100,000 was 25.5 on December 17 when it started, which was higher than tokyo at that time

Admittedly tokyo is far more challenging but its definitely positive.

Here each restaurant received a million yen to close for month

Tokyo could have done the same without an s.o.e and would probably be in a far better position if it had.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

How are these unoffical numbers being gathered and tallied?

-3( +9 / -12 )

Heh, 12 people REALLY didn't like that question. Same 12 people couldn't answer it either.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What many fail to recognize is that the accuracy of the PCR test itself is dubious. As has been reported elsewhere, it is prone to a significant percentage of false positive results and has been identified by the creators of the test as NOT a reliable diagnostic tool.

An Austrian Parliament Member showed that Coca Cola soda can make a COVID test positive. Also, the Tanzanian President show that a papaya can make a COVID test positive. So, there's that.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

So, COVID eradicated the influenza virus?

Um, that's not a very intelligent conclusion. You couldn't come up with any others? Maybe ask someone who actually understands how it all works to find out the logical conclusion. The one you didn't make.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

An Austrian Parliament Member showed that Coca Cola soda can make a COVID test positive. Also, the Tanzanian President show that a papaya can make a COVID test positive. So, there's that.

Really? Sounds dubious...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

An Austrian Parliament Member showed that Coca Cola soda can make a COVID test positive.

Really? Sounds dubious...

I thought so too, and it look me literally seconds to search online find out why performing the test incorrectly in the way he did produced a positive result.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

it look me literally seconds to search online

Good on you. I don't waste time looking up these people's claims when it's clear they don't post a link because they know their claims will fall apart under any kind of scrutiny.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Over 1500 cases in Tokyo will be reported today. What is Suga-san waiting for?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The rate of COVID positive to the number tested is a whopping 25% but the testing rate of 5,000 a day ridiculously low. The true figure of DAILY COVID positive in Tokyo alone is easily over 100,000 as another reader suggested. Compare the testing in Australia - 101,000 in the last 24 hours for a total of 5 active cases. Why the hell Japan isn't dong more tests? How good is the contact tracing? The nightmare for Japan has only just begun.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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