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Tokyo reports 12,813 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 62,612

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The Tokyo metropolitan government on Tuesday reported 12,813 new coronavirus cases, up 4,310 from Monday and up 7,628 from last Tuesday.

By age group, 3,126 cases were in their 20s, 2,257 in their 30s and 1,876 in their 40s, while 1,463 were aged between 10 and 19, and 1,562 younger than 10.

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 14, up two from Monday, health officials said. The nationwide figure was 444, up five from Monday.

Nationwide, the number of reported cases was 62,612. After Tokyo, the prefectures with the most cases were Osaka (8,612), Kanagawa (4,131), Aichi (4,120), Fukuoka (3,389), Chiba (3,251), Saitama (3,166), Kyoto (1,622), Hokkaido (1,536), Shizuoka (1,336), Okinawa (1,175 plus a further 50 cases among U.S. military personnel), Hiroshima (1,099), Kumamoto (901), Gunma (973), Gifu (816), Okayama (641), Nagasaki (614), Ibaraki (611), Tochigi (584), Kagoshima (526), Shiga (499), Nara (494), Nagano (448), Niigata (432), Oita (390), Yamaguchi (385), Mie (382), Yamanashi (371), Ehime (367), Ishikawa (354), Miyagi (331), Miyazaki (311), Wakayama (303), Akita (245), Fukushima (207), Aomori (196), Kagawa (191), Yamagata (153), Kochi (143), and Shimane (129).

The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported nationwide was 39.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

64 Comments

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These are similar numbers seen during the 2021 Olympics… oh, wait. Did we see real numbers during the Olympics ?

26 ( +35 / -9 )

will probably top out at 15k/16k as the testing has topped out at 35k. You just have to look at TV to see the huge lines of people wanting to get tested to see that 35k testing cap set by Koike is ridiculously low.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Well, it’s pretty obvious it’s too late for proactive measures to prevent the spread of omicron. Now, once again we see Tokyo and Japan taking reactive measures to deal with a mass outbreak.

14 ( +21 / -7 )

Okinawa just HAD to mention that 50 military personnel out of 1175. Shows perfectly where their bias lies…

It's 1175 plus the 50 military cases, not including. Total 1225..

12 ( +14 / -2 )

expatToday  05:02 pm JST

Omicron prompts calls for Japan to treat COVID like the flu

I have been in Japan over 30 years, I can remember years where the flu season was worse and hospitals were struggling to deal with the high number of walk-in patients.

But I cannot remember ba single flu season where the hospital ICUs were filled to capacity, hospitals were out of beds, and things like surgeries, were suspended.

Does anyone remember a Flu season like the above? If so give us a year and source to back it up.

Until someone replies with such a flu season, we can clearly see that covid is not the flu nor is it like the flu.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

It will soon reach its upper limits simply because they will never do enough tests to allow the real numbers to become official. Anyhow the TV news reports they are running out of tests and materials to process PCR tests. They no longer do contact tracing of close contacts because they cannot keep up and then just advice everyone to stay home for 14 days, or is it 10 now, and call the doctor if you feel bad. Doctor or someone from a testing centre asked people with mild or no symptoms please do not get tested.

Meanwhile in my prefecture approaching 6 months since my vaccination I contacted the health centre about my booster vouchers, (I thought the PM made a big deal saying it was moved up to 6 months.) They said sorry we are not sending them till after 7 months here. So if I am lucky I can get vaccinated mid March or so, Should coincide with the end of the wave. Whether one wants or believes in boosters it makes no difference as one simply cannot get it, til the 7/8 months pass ( or could be 6 months in some areas maybe)

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Spreading like wildfire more so this time around. Both kids' schools shut down for a week at least. Anyone else here have kids home currently because of this?

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Ergo, about 20 million for the metropolis.

For what it's worth, the metropolis is more like 38 million. Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama are usually included in the "metropolis" not just Yokohama. Also no space between.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

danToday  07:20 pm JST

I am still waiting for the information on a year where the Flu filled up the ICUs in Japan like covid did last time!

You give us that and I will agree covid is no different than influenza.

But in over 30 years I haven't seen a flu season as severe as the covid situation was last time.

So unless hospitals didn't report being overwhelmed by influenza and having full ICUs even once in 30 years it appears covid is nowhere near like the flu.

6 ( +13 / -7 )

You just have to look at TV to see the huge lines of people wanting to get tested to see that 35k testing cap set by Koike is ridiculously low.

Wasn't someone here boasting how Tokyo had a testing capacity of 100K ?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Testing cap for Tokyo is 100k, not 35k as some mentioned.

We know even half 50K of the capacity you are boasting Tokyo has will never be used.

Useless if you ask me.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Wooooow…Okinawa just HAD to mention that 50 military personnel out of 1175. Shows perfectly where their bias lies…

5 ( +29 / -24 )

Ignore the fear.

Oh god, when will you people understand that giving this virus such big reservoir hosts is the best way to have new variants, potentially extremely deadly ?

Omicron will mute, it already has, faster than before.

5 ( +18 / -13 )

63% positivity rate according to the official counting method (cases / avg 3 day tests). That’s just silly. They need to test more.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Remember to get fully vaccinated, 二回

Those fully vaccinated should get booster after 6 months, ブースター

For Those Seeking Vaccination Sites in Japan,

https://v-sys.mhlw.go.jp/search/

コロナワクチン ナビ

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=en&tl=ja&u=https://v-sys.mhlw.go.jp/search/

5 ( +13 / -8 )

“This wave will be over soon.”

before it does, stay safe everyone. Testing cap for Tokyo is 100k, not 35k as some mentioned.

4 ( +12 / -8 )

Well I guess we need to reevaluate the covid thing as far as I now understand by the supreme power we are no long in a pandemic and what is happening with covid outside the japandemic is of no relevance.

So it is now officially a japandemic.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

There are levels to consider for employees, working from home bringing contributing constant mental healthcare issues.

How will families cope?

Weeks of COVID quasi-emergency can morph into months so demand clear answers.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Would be helpful if they number of those tested was actually mentioned in these news reports. And also, specifically adding that - further 50 for U.S military personnel - to the Okinawa numbers, isn't good for foreigner sentiment, in a sense it's kinda divisive and would only lend more misinformed prejudice against not just Americans resident in Okinawa but foreigners resident in the entire country.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Reckless

Thanks, but I can't read Japanese

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@CommodoreFlag

I was just kinda hoping the people who always say those things think about it a little =)

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@NOMINATION. Anyone else here have kids home currently because of this?

My 5 year olds school has one closed class due to positive cases but as they only tested that class and that teacher even though my daughters class and said class mix as one after lunch and all play together at play time I’ve taken her out of school until further notice. Part of me wants to catch it and have it over with but I can’t just send a 5 year old off everyday I the knowledge that she’s very likely to catch it. Even if it is mild for young ones. Making the most of the time as one must in life I guess. Chin up folks could be worse you could be Donald trump!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@klausdorth

What you mentioned just lead to more questions.

What you can actually conclude if you believe numbers are manipulated is that Suga engineered his own downfall

1 ( +3 / -2 )

That said, do 14 (in words: FOURTEEN) people with bad symptoms in a population of 13,999,568 people sound like an earth-shattering crisis to you?

Not to me.

But the impact to the health care system and economy of the numbers you dont take into account could be

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Nooe, but I agree with Ian about the impact on the healthcare system and economy. Not to mention, the total number of hospitalizations in Tokyo was 2,540 as of yesterday.

https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

But please don’t let accuracy get in the way of your posts.

So 12 beds of the 510 available (2.4%) for serious cases are being used. 97.6% of beds for serious cases are free.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

This is due to the mildness of this variant compared to previous ones.This one does not affect the lower respiratory tract which can cause lung damage and cause problems for other internal organs.

Interesting, previously with all the other variants you consistently claimed there were no long term problems associated with covid now you say the other variants could cause long term damage.

Here are the facts, with a large portion of the population vaccinated were are seeing far fewer severe cases not because the virus is weak but because those that are vaccinated are less likely to end up in ICU.

Most countries with high vaccination are now releasing data showing that the tiny portion of unvaccinated are making up the major of those in ICU with severe covid.

https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/pages/news/news/2022/01/the-omicron-variant-sorting-fact-from-myth

Read the ones:

Myth: Omicron only causes mild disease.

It’s important that we don’t get ahead of ourselves in terms of judging the severity and potential impact of Omicron.

A number of countries have shown that infection-severity from Omicron in their populations has been lower compared to Delta. However, these Omicron impacts have been mostly observed in countries with high vaccination rates in the Region: the comparatively lower rate of hospitalizations and deaths so far is in large part thanks to vaccination, particularly of vulnerable groups

And:

Myth: Unvaccinated people will not become severely ill from Omicron..

We are seeing the benefits of the vaccine but the unvaccinated are the possible incubators of the next variants.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

I am concerned with the amount of deaths.

Recovery rate is high ..deaths very low and only in the sick and mainly over 80s.

Enough said .

I guess this is sweet and nice to the elderly.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Omicron prompts calls for Japan to treat COVID like the flu

That is precisely what should be done. Not only are the vaccines doing a great job of preventing serious illness/death and reducing the incidence of long COVID, the omicron variant is itself intrinsically less severe than previous variants. Too early for data on Omicron and long COVID, but with less severe illness and less inflammation (which has been related to LC) with Omicron, it looks likely that this will be less of an issue. The data coming out of other countries that are ahead of us on Omicron are showing that there are way fewer deaths and people going to ICU - similar in number to what might be seen due to regular flu and pneumonia (and it is likely that for many, if they weren't getting seriously ill and dying of Omicron, they would be through regular flu and pneumonia instead - you can't die twice, so the omicron deaths are not adding to flu/pneumonia deaths). Also, many of those seriously affected are those that chose not to get vaccinated. We should be able to tolerate that in the same way that we tolerate the premature deaths from other poor health and lifestyle choices such as the approx. 430 daily smoking deaths in Japan for example. For those that can't get vaccinated or are otherwise immunocompromised and so on, well we have highly effected antivirals coming online right now.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

This wave will be over soon.

Maybe, but waiting for the wave be over is only a passive option, but everyone forgets to dry out that ‘sea’, that’s the main error. But you can say that for two years and still everyone is sleeping until it’s really too late, also personally or individually. As long as not affected directly , no one reacts on those numbers and death tolls. Unbelievable!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

60-70% positivity

With positivity that high, why is there so much negativity on this board?

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

The greatest threat in this pandemic is the inability of individuals and organisations to put aside their political beliefs, let go of their paranoia, and simply act for the greater good. Regardless of opinion as to the neccessity of the response in any given area, those of us who chose to deny, resist, and promulagate their contrarian views and conspiracy theories, have blood on their hands and are responsible for the vast majority of the economic issues. There is a time to stand and fight the power, and there is a time to stand in solidarity. Shame.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

60-70% positivity

Anybody has an English language source for this? Just curious

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@antiquesaving

Was there a flu season when 80% of all hospitals refused to accept any flu patients? When the hospitals that did would only accept a handful?

Also, what is it? 13 serious Omicron cases in Tokyo up to now? Hardly filling up the ICU wards is it?

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

If the govt was limiting the number of tests before to control number of cases why not doing it now?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Wooooow…Okinawa just HAD to mention that 50 military personnel out of 1175. Shows perfectly where their bias lies…

I'm going to put it down to your not being a fluent or native speaker of English, or perhaps you're an English teacher. But as dear Cleo says, it's 1175 locals, PLUS 50 military personnel, because they're not Japanese or ordinary residents. They are 'guests'.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

@AntiqueSaving

I am concerned with the amount of deaths.

Recovery rate is high ..deaths very low and only in the sick and mainly over 80s.

Enough said .

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

If the govt was limiting the number of tests before to control number of cases why not doing it now?

Spoilers: There weren't. That little conspiracy theory was brought to you by the same people who brought you the "Positivity Rate".

Anybody has an English language source for this? Just curious

Many statisticians on this very board attest to the value of the "Positivity Rate". You don't need to look elsewhere for it.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Ignore the fear.

Oh god, when will you people understand that giving this virus such big reservoir hosts is the best way to have new variants, potentially extremely deadly ?

Omicron will mute, it already has, faster than before.

I agree that giving this virus a reservoir of vaccinated people will encourage the appearance of variants with mutated spike proteins.

But with such a fast spreading virus, we will all get broad immunity in no time.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

P. Smith

You should get your facts straight before asking questions:

*#1. Tokyo Metro Population: 13,999,568 people**

For all practical purposes, Yokohama and Tokyo are the same metropolis, there is no space between them. Ergo, about 20 million for the metropolis.

That said, do 14 (in words: FOURTEEN) people with bad symptoms in a population of 13,999,568 people sound like an earth-shattering crisis to you?

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Rob RoyToday  07:11 pm JST

prionkingToday 05:08 pm JST

Ignore the fear. Pay attention to the number of deaths and critically ill. Sad for those it affects, but very, very low. Highly likely to be elderly, vaccinated and with other comorbidities.

Over 7 days last week COVID-19 killed 13,563 Americans, equivalent to a decent-sized American town, wiped off the map.

Sad, huh? F those "elderly", right?

Care to tell me how many of those people died with or from COVID? How many were vaccinated? What age they were? What sort of and how many comorbidities they had. Even Walensky admitted the other day that most people who died had 4 comorbidities. Not to mention what treatment was given to or withheld from them.

Here in Japan the number of people succumbing to COVID is tiny, and almost all of them are elderly, vaxxed and with comorbidities. That's not saying their deaths don't matter, but they're not entirely unexpected either.

So before you jump down someone's throat, consider the context and nuances of the data.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

I’m waiting for the one who say’s it’s so many x ‘s compared from last week and who predicted it would be over 10000 this week , aghh beat me to it

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

But what about the "Positivity Rate", Japan Today?? Without the "Positivity Rate" (a statistically irrelevant number based on the numbers of positive cases as a percentage of people tested because they think they have the virus) the case number is useless. :O

Also we need the "Positivity Rate" because the government doesn't want us to have it. We sure outsmarted them, right guys? :D

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

One thing for sure, the vaccination program has been a huge success by looking at the number of contamination after 3 shots!

Since it works so well, let's make sure we boost the remaining people so they can also catch omicron

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

@Antiquesaving

Quite the opposite the symptoms for most healthy people who contract the 'Omicron' variant is very mild and flu like ( high temps,headaches ).

For people with health concerns and that are elderly and frail it is quite serious but then so is influenza for them.

The Japanese government gov is telling people to self isolate ( in a hotel) for 5 days which is what my best mate is currently doing.

Don't blow things out of proportion and enough with the brazen hysteria!

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

Ignore the fear. Pay attention to the number of deaths and critically ill. Sad for those it affects, but very, very low. Highly likely to be elderly, vaccinated and with other comorbidities.

-10 ( +17 / -27 )

Didn’t JT used to always use “Delta variant”? Now that the world knows Omicron is not that deadly and the vaxx is not needed except for some with “bigger” health problems, why don’t they use “Omicron variant”?

-12 ( +11 / -23 )

Very high case numbers yet we don’t see severe cases and deaths skyrocket. This is due to the mildness of this variant compared to previous ones.This one does not affect the lower respiratory tract which can cause lung damage and cause problems for other internal organs.

This wave will be over soon.

-15 ( +14 / -29 )

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 14, up two from Monday, health officials said.

FOURTEEN. In a Metropolis of 20 million. How much longer will people fall for this hype?
-15 ( +10 / -25 )

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