Tokyo reports 16,129 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 87,723

Bored of it now ...

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 80, one down from Thursday, health officials said.

RIP

down 2,531 from last Friday.

Great news.

“Bored of it now ...”

then while read it and commented? Guess the curiosity is still there?

The fall in cases continues unabated, as the R number falls across the nation.

Living wth this virus is how it must be done unless a deadlier variant appears which is highly unlikely .

Deaths and severe cases to fall shortly.

Time to put an end to all the restrictions, especially the border closures that are an absolute nonsense, and get everything back to normal again. COVID has resulted in fewer deaths in Japan than we normally see in winter due to flu and pneumonia and with most people now vaccinated along with a dominant less virulent strain it is even less of a threat. The only reason hospitals had any problems here was due to the fact that 80% of them refuse to accept COVID patients. Why is that? Two reasons: 1) COVID classified as a very dangerous and highly contagious disease meaning very strict rules have to be implemented when dealing with COVID pateints - simply not practical for most hospitals to do. 2) the social stigma associated with the disease due to the incessant fear-mongering in the press and signalling from the government, meaning some places didn't want anything to do with it. Fix 1) by re-classifying COVID at a similar level to influenza and at least try to go some way toward fixing 2) by lifting remaining restrictions and telling people to go back to their normal lives, just like what is being done in countries such as the UK, Denmark, Sweden and others.

Why do people keep comparing Covid deaths and the drastic reduction in deaths from seasonal influenza? It’s not the great trade off like some of you suggest. I’ve lived here 12 yrs now and until the last 2 years I was always mortified at how many people were catching the flu. But then came Covid. What else changed ? For starters, people started washing their hands more frequently. Surfaces have been kept much cleaner throughout the day now . That directly cut flu cases to near nonexistent. Hand gels …. But Covid can also be mitigated much better than has been done . Serious cases and deaths can be reduced . Imagine that . If people would only follow basic science and use common sense. Instead, we have those that think Covid infections and deaths are acceptable. Do y’all also wanna do away with rules of the road ? Malpractice by medical professionals? Stop equating Covid and the flu. There’s no comparison.

Footnote : Tokyo is 1 city in the country . Stop declaring Covid over until you see the entire country’s numbers. Everyday the total is higher overall.

steven

We have viruses all through history. This variant of Covid is very contagious, luckily for us it’s also very mild and provides good immunity. Deaths happen with pandemics, vaccines can reduce deaths particularly for the elderly and the obese and also good nutrition, maintaining good body weight and daily exercise

Living wth this virus is how it must be done unless a deadlier variant appears which is highly unlikely.

Unfortunately, early research indicates the ba.2 variant may be significantly more severe than the omicron strain. It is only preprint, however it definitely indicates that celebration would be terribly premature

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/02/17/health/ba-2-covid-severity/index.html

Unfortunately, early research indicates the ba.2 variant may be significantly more severe than the omicron strain. 

i tried, seems they don't get the notion of variant reservoir when you live "with" the virus (ie letting it go wild)

@Steven McCarthy.

OK, I'll give you this - my statement about COVID deaths should be taken in the context of the fact that we did have some restrictions in place - mask wearing, and other precautions that people took mainly of their own accord - I'm not convinced border restrictions had a major affect. The earlier variants hitting a non-vaccinated population were clearly a much bigger threat than the common flu. However, I do believe that once the numbers are crunched, we will see that this latest variant, Omicron, hitting a largely vaccinated population will be found to have a similar or even lower case:fatality ratio to influenza. Some issues are caused by Omicron's much higher transmissibility, meaning an awful lot more people are getting it in a short space of time. This is compounded by the fact that most hospitals won't accept COVID cases, as I mentioned in my previous post. It will all begin to settle down in a few weeks when the main omicron wave passes.

If people want to continue to wear a mask, wash hands and so on, I'm fine with that and indeed do those things myself. I can tell from your posts that you mean well, and that you care and that is appreciated and while I'm always happy to hear different opinions to my own, I would say your ideas of strict lockdowns to try to control Omicron are fringe to radical at this stage, and simply do not take into account the simple realities of something as transmissible as this variant. Somewhat akin to trying to stop the tide by building a few sandcastles, I'm afraid.

But the boosters are being rolled out with all those taxes the government has taken for it-can’t let the people forget can they?

FFS….

“This variant of Covid is very contagious, luckily for us it’s also very mild and provides good immunity. Deaths happen with pandemics, vaccines can reduce deaths particularly for the elderly and the obese and also good nutrition, maintaining good body weight and daily exercise”

Omicron is the deadliest variant of Covid in Japan to date. FACT. Go tell the friends and family members of the daily records in deaths that it’s “very mild.”

Vaccines can reduce serious problems and deaths in every age group, body type , ethnicity. Stop with your “class warfare” as usual . Omicron does not discriminate.

There we go daily numbers just remember to stop drinking at 8 everything will be ok.

I never start before 8 or 9pm - so do most patrons at local bars. That should be fine as well.

Does drinking only before 8pm will stop this?

Steven

My dear fellow, how wrong you are regarding Omicron not discriminating. The most at risk are the very old, over 75’s, especially if in poor health. The next at risk are the obese beyond the age of a small child. Almost all deaths are over 80’s, nine for under 10’s, so it does not prove to be fatal equally amongst the population.

Im nit going to go around upsetting people who have lost a loved one am I, that would be callous. However the emotional and pulling at heartstrings techniques don’t work with me. I like to deal with the situation and analyse the data.

Even the 専門家会didn't officially confirmed whether stopping drinking after 8 reduced the numbers.

just remember to stop drinking at 8 everything will be ok.

Brilliant. Got any more edgy new comedy in your nightly repertoire? Maybe a 'hold my beer' gag?

@SteveMcCartney

Omicron is the most deadly variant?

If it is then my wife and I should have been in intensive care.

Better to give up on the hyperbole and spare us all …

The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported nationwide was 211.

Still very high but at least not another record breaker

Omicron is the deadliest variant of Covid in Japan to date. FACT. Go tell the friends and family members of the daily records in deaths that it’s “very mild.”

Okay so omicron is estimated to kill 4,300 people in Japan by April*. That's about a thousand more deaths than Delta which claimed about 3,000 lives.

If you're measuring "deadly" by number of deaths, that may eventually be accurate. On a case fatality basis, however, it's significantly less lethal - 2.8% for alpha, 0.4% for delta, and 0.07% for omicron. Sounds less deadly when you present it with those statistics right?

Like it or not Steven, life has to go back to normal eventually. You've had livelihoods pulverized by these restrictions with record numbers of bankruptcies, a high suicide death toll in mostly young men that won't be fully known for years, and a dangerous experiment in Keynesian economics with unprecedented amounts of debt created by central banks. And you want to lock everything down?

For perspective, let's compare this to lung cancer deaths. Conservatively, 80% of which are due to smoking and mostly affecting elderly populations as well. In 2020 in Japan, 77,581 people died of lung cancer in Japan. Now 80% of that is 62,065. Now compare that to our cumulative COVID-19 death toll in Japan over 2 years of 21,257 people. Now we could infringe on individual rights here and stop people from smoking but we don't do that even though the economic and social damage would be minimal compared to what COVID-19 restrictions have done. But we don't and nobody is even suggesting we do because it's not the flavor of the month like coronavirus is. If you want to spend money, why not take on the task of helping the 21,100 people who commit suicide every year in Japan? This seems far more deadly to me.

How about laying off on a bar owner's right to open a restaurant when and how he wants or my right to travel outside Tokyo or everyone's right to leave their own house?

*https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220217_30/

**https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0008267814

***https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/study-more-than-twelve-percent-of-people-newly-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-never-smoked.html

The most at risk are the very old, over 75’s, especially if in poor health. The next at risk are the obese beyond the age of a small child. Almost all deaths are over 80’s, nine for under 10’s, so it does not prove to be fatal equally amongst the population.

Im nit going to go around upsetting people who have lost a loved one am I, that would be callous. However the emotional and pulling at heartstrings techniques don’t work with me. I like to deal with the situation and analyse the data.

The following data analysis is sourced from Toyokeizai:

Over 80s as a percentage of total covid deaths:

61%

Average age of covid deaths:

74.2 years

Note: this figure is reached taking all deaths within an age bracket as at the highest possible value; i.e. over 30s = 39. Over 80s is averaged at the average life expectancy in Japan = 84.36.

As an emotional ploy, I might point out that on average every covid death has cost it's victim around 10 years of life on this analysis.

Waywardnihon

Unfortunately your analysis is flawed. Those that die of Covid usually have 3 or 4 serious preconditions so will be unlikely to live until the average age of death.

life has to go back to normal eventually.

Firstly, seeking to reduce mortality from one cause is not mutually exclusive of seeking to reduce mortality from another cause.

Secondly, covid-19 is a communicable disease. I am sure you are aware that it is intellectually dishonest to compare public health policies for communicable diseases to lung cancer or suicide.

Finally, with regard to communicable diseases, normal is a variety of public health measures, across both the public and private sectors, on the community and individual levels, implemented to mitigate mortality to an acceptable rate. These measures have included vaccination, isolation of infected individuals (both voluntary and mandatory), quarantine of locations subject to outbreaks, and closures of business and public institutions. In the case of the most commonly cited virus, seasonal influenza, these measures are implemented annually at a level which maintains a mortality rate of between 3000 and 10000 annually. The same measures have been implement on a larger scale for covid, with an apparent aim to maintain a similar mortality rate. This is normal.

What you are advocating as living with the virus would be an extremely abnormal response to a pandemic.

FFS: go get educated and some credibility on the issue at hand . Stop making up your daily bs predictions, stop playing Doctor and scientist. You’re neither . You’re an internet troll. Stop spinning my words trying to make yourself seem smart . The only thing fatally flawed here is you and your out of touch with reality statements. When it’s not that , you’re just a LIAR.

CommodoreFlag

Not sure why you’re comparing hardships of people from other countries to people in Japan . Other than the border , we’ve had no restrictions. So go try to spin someone else’s words . Eventually you’re right . That’s a bold prediction. But when cases are at record levels , deaths are at record numbers, that is not the time to go back to normal .

Firstly, seeking to reduce mortality from one cause is not mutually exclusive of seeking to reduce mortality from another cause.

Agreed. My argument was based on the perspective of what a "deadly" disease is.

Secondly, covid-19 is a communicable disease. I am sure you are aware that it is intellectually dishonest to compare public health policies for communicable diseases to lung cancer or suicide.

Would you consider it intellectually dishonest to call omicron "the most deadly variant"? I would - personally because it omits key contextual information some of which I included above.

I disagree that I'm being intellectually dishonest with my argument. I do believe COVID-19 is merely a flavor of the month disease (admittedly going on longer than previous such cases such as SARS and avian influenza) which I was trying to highlight with my examples. We have our strategies in place for lung cancer, for depression, and for COVID-19. I would not compare these factors that cause these very different diseases but comparing the strategies to cope with these diseases in terms of social and economic destruction is valid. What are we willing to bear as nations and as individuals?

Finally, with regard to communicable diseases, normal is a variety of public health measures, across both the public and private sectors, on the community and individual levels, implemented to mitigate mortality to an acceptable rate. 

I want to focus on your use of "acceptable rate", what is that? To many, we've actually reached that - with vaccines and measures such as masks. I feel bad for anyone who has lost someone to this disease but my own position, I know more people who have suffered from the consequence of restrictions and lockdowns. Also, keep in mind, my original comment was addressed to a lockdown advocate.

Finally, I do appreciate your respectful and detailed response.

Unfortunately your analysis is flawed. Those that die of Covid usually have 3 or 4 serious preconditions so will be unlikely to live until the average age of death.

I believe you mean my emotional ploy is flawed, as the analysis does not rely on the average age of deaths, unless you mean to contend that the average age of those dying of covid over 80 is higher than the average age, which would in fact be contrary to your above statement as they should already be dead from their preconditions.

I want to focus on your use of "acceptable rate", what is that? To many, we've actually reached that 

Indeed, I personally do not know how the acceptable mortality rate for any given disease is arrived at; it would be some balance of scientific opinion, public sentiment and political expedience I am sure. However, if you are arguing that the current mortality is acceptable, then you are arguing that those measures taken are appropriate and should continue until such a time as their easement would result in lower mortality. The fact that mortality is currently rising means that more stringent measures would be warranted (or higher mortality is acceptable). Essentially, you have to pick a number. Is 10000 a year acceptable to you? Can we push it up to 15000 so we can travel abroad or drink after 8? Is only 5000 acceptable, and we should lockdown to get there?

Personally, I have my own position, but I am not expressing it.

Can we push it up to 15000 so we can travel abroad or drink after 8? Is only 5000 acceptable, and we should lockdown to get there?

A very interesting and philosophical debate to be sure. We do ultimately depend on the decision makers in power.

And good point about the increasing death rate requiring more stringent measures - I would personally relax things now that we've passed the peak of infections despite an increasing death toll as other countries have done.