Tokyo reports 2,539 coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 16,738

5th wave peak has been reached, good news !

Regarding Tokyo:

week 33 (Aug 16-22) : 123,000 tests and 32,248 infections.

week 34 (Azg 23-29) : 112,480 tests and 25,190 infections.

On August 31, daily averages (based on 7 days) :

positivity rate down to 22% (was almost 30% mid August).

14,750 tests

Regarding Osaka:

week 33 (Aug 16-22) : 115,099 tests and 14,922 infections.

week 34 (Azg 23-29) : 130,919 tests and 17,408 infections.

On September 2, daily averages (based on 7 days) :

positivity rate down to 12.3% (was almost 14% on August 24).

20,066 tests

If anyone thinks these fluctuating daily numbers are to give you a complete picture of the direction this wave is heading, you're kidding yourself.

I'll ask the question I've been asking since last year, why is Tokyo not testing, at the very least, TRIPLE what they are currently on a daily basis?

bell curve

RobToday  04:55 pm JST

If anyone thinks these fluctuating daily numbers are to give you a complete picture of the direction this wave is heading, you're kidding yourself.

Raw daily numbers are meaningless.

I'll ask the question I've been asking since last year, why is Tokyo not testing, at the very least, TRIPLE what they are currently on a daily basis?

Based on numbers since the beginning of the pandemic, Japanese are more resistant !

Putting my personal opinions aside and commenting merely on the numbers provided, it would seem that finally the numbers are going down and decreasing. I still choose to be wary and still choose to live very very carefully even though I’ve been fully vaccinated. Still, if these numbers are true then that would surely mean the 5th wave is coming down and measures, people’s actions are slowly having an effect. End of the SOE then by September 26th if these numbers are really true.

That Friday feeling with some coronavirus number crunching!

Kind of hopeful looking at these numbers recently, no?

Numbers falling. 133M vaccination doses will do that. Numbers seem to be falling nationwide.

Is there even a point in saying it.

The Tokyo miracle lower cases by lowering testing.

The 24th 20,000 the 31st 15,500

The 25th 17,800 the 1st 12,992

The 26th 17,000 today 11,267 ( to be adjust but if like yesterday than we will end up at just around 13,000

So around a 25% drop each day compared to last week.

Seriously 14 million people in Tokyo but only 12,000 tests.

And the same 25% down on every day compared to last week.

Tokyo has some miracle luck that these drops in testing are near identical by percentage.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210903/k10013241551000.html

Vaccine passport to be used ?

No - There is no point @Antiquesaving. Its boring and the SOE will be over Mid October. Enough people will be vaccinated, we can get on with life. Do I have to say it again - its almost past tense now isn't it? Mass testing isn't, has been or never will be a policy in Japan. Move on mate.

CommodoreFlagToday  05:11 pm JST

That Friday feeling with some coronavirus number crunching!

Kind of hopeful looking at these numbers recently, no?

Probably more than half hundred deaths to report... But not everybody care about.

theResidentToday  05:29 pm JST

No - There is no point @Antiquesaving. Its boring and the SOE will be over Mid October. Enough people will be vaccinated, we can get on with life. Do I have to say it again - its almost past tense now isn't it? Mass testing isn't, has been or never will be a policy in Japan. Move on mate.

What prevent you to be already on your life ?

Number of deaths will probably be still on the way up but no need really to crunch numbers as neat graphs are readily accessibleon the site /link provided with the report

Down, down, and down.

What prevent you to be already on your life ?

I think he was directing his ‘get on with life’ statement to the those people still obsessed with numbers & testing.

...The Pfizer booster shot is not a different formula! Its just a top up for those with weaker immune systems , who would have had their second shot much much earlier in the year.

Since Japan was effectively 4-5 months behind, then why would they giving booster jabs right now?

If your argument was that the Booster jab had been modified for the current dominant variants then your argument would be somewhat sensible - but its not. That's in trials.

"Either way, the places I went for my testing had long lines of men..."

Were there no women waiting in the line?

Japan is trully a miracle with it's testing and playing with numbers. It's maybe the only country, where the number of tested/infected and infected in the wild/in hospitals/etc doesn't correlate.

Great news. Not only are the cases going down, but daily deaths haven't reached the peaks seen in late May/early June despite a far greater number of total infections. This means the vaccination has been working for the elderly as well. If you haven't already, get vaccinated!

tooheysnew Today  05:43 pm JST

I think he was directing his ‘get on with life’ statement to the those people still obsessed with numbers & testing.

Oh I see, I understood now.

Compared to how was life in Western countries since 2020, I cannot complain about life in Japan for sure. I enjoy being in Japan. Just that the SoE here is senseless.

Numbers seem to be falling nationwide.

Not really, but since you said "seem" I give you the benefit of the doubt.

In our prefecture "numbers" are increasing. Waiting for an update from other prefectures.

Maybe poster meant nationwide as overall and not in every place

klausdorth Today  05:46 pm JST

Numbers seem to be falling nationwide.

Not really, but since you said "seem" I give you the benefit of the doubt.

In our prefecture "numbers" are increasing. Waiting for an update from other prefectures.

Well, based on numbers, peak has been reached nationwide.

theResidentToday  05:47 pm JST

...The Pfizer booster shot is not a different formula! Its just a top up for those with weaker immune systems , who would have had their second shot much much earlier in the year.

Since Japan was effectively 4-5 months behind, then why would they giving booster jabs right now?

If your argument was that the Booster jab had been modified for the current dominant variants then your argument would be somewhat sensible - but its not. That's in trials.

Good comments !

Anyway re testing reporting, if it's not covered by medical insurance it's probably not included in the report

Anyway re testing reporting, if it's not covered by medical insurance it's probably not included in the report

Unless you are testing everyone, it's pointless to bicker about the number of tests. We have a large enough sample size to see the number is decreasing in the capital and nationwide, so that is good news.

With the number of tests being low and the positivity rate being so high, it is clear that many asymptomatic cases have not been detected and because of that many infections have not been prevented.

But this is the choice of Japan to not make a lot of tests. Same thing happens in Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea...

Unless you are testing everyone, it's pointless to bicker about the number of tests. We have a large enough sample size to see the number is decreasing in the capital and nationwide, so that is good news.

Not everybody knows that. The important thing is that whatever testing guidelines are in place are applied consistently.

UK current thinking about the virus is about to change from epidemic to Endemic and one part of this is less testing. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/delta-coronavirus-government-liberal-democrat-b950068.html

And it's official the vaccines do not stop the virus spreading. The world is going to have to live with it

And it is is not only UK, Germany to stop free mass testing. The Japanese low testing regime is vindicated, (but I don't really think it was because Japan understood the virus better,) just some sort of luck like the relativevlow death numbers

Meanwhile Sydney after how many weeks strict lockdown, covid cases keep going up, and deaths too. Today over half the number of positive as Tokyo! Not long now till Sydney may have more cases then Tokyo.

No better proof to these latest findings from the UK than what is happening in Australia in contrast to Japan.

I was just referring to Ashley's post, I failed to mention.

anon99999 Today  06:34 pm JST

And it's official the vaccines do not stop the virus spreading. The world is going to have to live with it.

Absolutely. Vaccines or natural antibodies do not make a person "anti-spreader" but "less spreader". The main point is it reduce a lot the chances to be seriously ill.

To live with the virus for years, that's what virologists and epidemiologists are saying a lot ! Life will never be like it was before the virus appears.

Also, do not be surprised with the coming of other viruses.

With the number of tests being low and the positivity rate being so high,

Haven't been tracking it, would you mind posting the overall positivity rate nowadays?

Rob Today  06:39 pm JST

There are 278 people out of a population of nearly 14 000 000 that need critical care.

Oh come on man. This is absolutely FALSE. Many more than 278 needs care. You should visit some ill patients (light, moderate, severe and critical) to know how painful is this disease.

joffyToday  06:02 pm JST

And

theResidentToday  05:47 pm JST

If you don't like my comments and the facts you don't have to read them.

You can go on reading "numbers are down, covid is beaten, the end of here, bars in Osaka are open only obese and elderly are the problem, etc.

But remind me again what wave are we on, 3rd, 4th...?

I think the rest of the countries are on or starting a 5th!?

I guess you think Japan and Tokyo in particular are going to somehow perform better in the next wave, seeing they did nothing in the first 3 or 4.

Oh come on man. This is absolutely FALSE. Many more than 278 needs care.

Stop playing around and give us the exact numbers so we know whether to go out this weekend or not. Hurry, the weekend is about to start!

NOMINATION Today  06:53 pm JST

Stop playing around and give us the exact numbers so we know whether to go out this weekend or not. Hurry, the weekend is about to start!

Tokyo has more then 4000 patients at the hospital. And you are not hospitalized for light or lightly moderate covid.

Add more than 2000 recovering at designated hotels and more than 20,000 at home. And also more than 6000 waiting guidance on hospital admission.

The 278 are the most severe patients intubated, ECMO's and potentially dying.

Some people are repetitive with their number crunching ( day off yesterday) the numbers say its getting better not great but better, but some for nearly a year and a half think that they are the voice of reason and what they say goes

Liam RobertsToday  07:03 pm JST

Some people are repetitive with their number crunching ( day off yesterday) the numbers say its getting better not great but better, but some for nearly a year and a half think that they are the voice of reason and what they say goes

Well it is better than those in the fantasy land that for the same year and a half have been repeating covid is beaten every time the cases drop by any amount and go on about covid only affecting old and fat people.

Tokyo’s daily cases will be soon the same as Sydney’s (1,731 new cases today from 155,000 tests) And here we’ve all been locked down for 2 months and counting. What is Tokyo’s secret? Please let our esteemed leaders know. ;)

Bibi you say 155000 tests but only 1731 positive cases in Sydney low percentage, there are some here that want that level of testing but will be more happier with a higher level of positives to make themselves happy that they have been correct all along

Sorry in advance for my rant but I am so lost and confused. I was diagnosed the other day and now my son too, except he has a fever of almost 40 and says he can't breathe! He's just a child! No hospital is taking him! How can this be happening?! This is so unfair. I just lost my parents and I can't stand the thought to lose him too.

As has been pointed out by the most astute voices echoing in the void that is the JT comment section in the downswing of every wave since last July, these lower numbers can only mean thay corona has been completed defeated and we can return to prepandemic life. I mean, eventually this repetitive drivel has to be right, instead of exactly the thinking that has led to successively worse waves with higher death rates. Right?

dagonToday  07:10 pm JST

Based on numbers since the beginning of the pandemic, Japanese are more resistant !

True to his name, @TheTruthIsOutThere speaks the truth. The CDC, Fauci and WHO have failed to take into account the length of the Japanese gut, the many excellent fermented products in the Japanese diet, and the exemplary hygiene of the Japanese populace.

Here is a good read for those interested in false myths about Japan and the Japanese.

https://japandaily.jp/5-mind-baffling-myths-that-are-commonly-held-in-japan-689/amp/

You bring nothing new to the conversation. It isn't hard to see that this latest wave is on the downward trend. Just accept it. It is OK to be humble sometimes.

I will ask the same question to you.

Is it so hard to admit that testing was reduced before the number of cases started their downward trend?

Just accept it!

Is it so hard to admit that testing was reduced before the number of cases started their downward trend?

Just accept it!

I'm pretty sure you can admit that random testing is very rare in Japan. Hence, most people that get tested are sick, which means less sick people equals less testing. Just accept it!

@Antiquitéséconomie

I agree number of tests if too low in Japan. And even if the number of deaths due to Covid is underestimated, I still cannot explain the situation here, No restrictions of constraints like western countries and low numbers of dead.

less sick people equals less testing

The fact you even have to point this out to a fully grown person is beyond me.

Supposedly, even if tons of sick people show up for checkup in a particular day, only the quota for the day will be tested, others will be denied testing.

Even if this snowballs on succeding days only the set limit still of tests will be done.

The number crunching continues unabated. The numbers are falling, it’s a fact. The vaccines are working.

There are less deaths in Japan than some places without lockdowns for various reasons. There is low obesity, better overall health, more wearing masks, less contact between people.

There are less deaths in Japan than some places without lockdowns for various reasons. There is low obesity, better overall health, more wearing masks, less contact between people.

Less contact between people is a good thing? Do you think it’s a bad idea to be going to bars?

Anyway, can you post those links to medical professionals backing up your claim that long Covid is a trivial matter over in a few weeks and affecting very few?

Cheers.

All the sick people denied testing will show up more sick the following days, exponentially infecting others along the way. More and more will be denied testing and therefore hospitalizations.

People will be dropping like flies and litter the streets....

Sorry got carried away

@Antiquesaving - I don't think you will find any posts of mine ever saying that it only accepts the obese and old. I do take the threat of Covid and the importance of getting everybody vaccinated to prevent serious illness very seriously as you well know. Just trying to say that your continued 'rainman-ish' posts about testing are no longer required as has been pointed out to you many times! Its never, ever going to be the policy of the Japanese Government to mass/random test. So, you can print off your spreadsheets everyday and recite them here in rote and everyday less people will care as in evident now.

Limited testing in Tokyo…86% positive rate according to the MOH website. Other areas in Japan had a more realistic testing approach with 20-50% positive rate! In reality the world health organization has recommended countries to do more testing in order to isolate and separate the infection from the general population in order to bring down the infection rate. The testing to positive rate should be around 2-3%! Seems like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has started to manipulate data to provide a false sense of security. People have already learnt to live with Corona virus so instead of painting a false picture they should do more testing so that the asymptotic infected people can isolate themselves instead of going around infecting others.

TheTruthIsOutThereToday  08:18 pm JST

@Antiquitéséconomie

I agree number of tests if too low in Japan. And even if the number of deaths due to Covid is underestimated, I still cannot explain the situation here, No restrictions of constraints like western countries and low numbers of dead.

You want the truth?!

If you don't test, if under the Japanese system no autopsy for over 65 ( or in just about all cases) how do you know what the numbers are.

You want the truth!?

When 2 members of my daughter's work team of 10 came down with covid ( including one hospitalised for quite some time).

The testing was refused for the other 8 members even after 2 more developed fevers.

Her company resorted to testing the other 8 using a private lad.

And miracle of miracles the 2 others also had covid.

This was before Delta,

The 8 members out of 10 tried explaining they worked in a sealed dust free room with the 2 that were sick, but no go, NO TESTING under the national healthcare system they did not meet the requirements.

Had her company not resorted to going to a private lad ( BTW ¥30,000 each test at the time) and continued like nothing was going on , then all 10 would have eventually gotten covid and so would others in our family.

Again this was before Delta.

So under the present situation and the slow vaccination had this situation happen with Delta then odds are I and the rest of our family would have caught it but again only once we are really sick could we be tested so during that time we pass it on to others.

You want the truth?

Get on Japanese social media see the hoops the Japanese are saying they have to go through to get tested and worse get medical treatment in hospital.

Oh wait that's right who needs a hospital when as an infectious person you can travel to Shibuya for a nice few hours of oxigen.

How any same adult can look at what has gone on and how the government has done things then believe what they are saying about cases is beyond comprehension.

When the cases start to fall, the message boards start talking "long-Covid" which we all know SO much about. Give us a break!

No need for the hysterical block letters.

I’m just asking people to back up their claims.

Are you against that? Why would anyone be?

Joffy

Good points. Last time the numbers were low, it was non stop Long Covid here, now it pops up again. Well, I’m not living in constant fear for sure.

Good points. Last time the numbers were low, it was non stop Long Covid here, now it pops up again

I’ve been asking you to back your claims about long Covid up for a long time regardless of numbers going up or down.

In serious discussions about serious matters you need to back these claims up.

Your evasions are revealing about your seriousness here.