Tokyo reports 237 new cases of coronavirus

Is this really news ?

Not too bad for a metropolis of 30 million.

More low-context “news.” Publish figures that mean something or don’t bother at all.

Meanwhile in the other chapter, night life businesses are asking the government to become more reasonable in their anti-virus measures. It really makes me scratch my head that the government can be draconian and ruthless in one aspect but can be irresponsibly lax in another. Somebody in the J-gov't should make the call already

More low-context “news.” Publish figures that mean something or don’t bother at all.

As long as we keep reading and commenting on this low-context news, I doubt anything will change.

60 percent beds are full, already? This is really turning into places like New York and Italy where the patients were not admitted due to lack of beds.

Shocking that the govt. is not imposing an emergency, or laying out a plan to increase the beds.

With the 4 days holidays approaching and the govt. still discussing about the Go To campaign, there is an URGENT need for all of us to collectively follow the precautions even more now.

On a lighter note, I got the Ice Cool Masks from Mizuno, I hope they will open up the lottery for more soon!

Tokyo's cumulative total reached 9,816, nearing 10,000, as the single-day figure, which compared with 168 cases on Monday, topped the 200-mark for the first time in three days.

We all know by now, that (thanks to the use of fax machines and black marker pens) there's a lag of couple of days in the figures, and that the low numbers are from less testing being done during the weekends. Therefore there's no need to rejoice over lower numbers because of less testing, or make remarks like "topped the 200-mark for the first time in three days", as it is to be expected. Rather state things as they are:

"There were 168 cases reported on Monday, but as these results are from tests being done during the weekend, during which there is usually less testing being done, the single-day figures have expectedly returned to over the 200-mark."

(You could also add that without the fax - marker pen - phone - fax - marker pen - fax limbo there would probably be much more capacity to conduct much more tests, revealing the reality, i.e. way more cases.)

Here's a shocker, everyone:

"Compiling daily virus tally in Tokyo involves ‘3-day time lag’

Every morning, two fax machines at a Tokyo metropolitan government office churn out reports that will be compiled into a highly-awaited number: the capital’s daily tally of new COVID-19 cases."

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13562212

The results for these tests are being faxed in.

It's an important read concerning these numbers we are getting daily. I recommend it to everyone.

237, YES but it's below 293........Do you see a pattern here? This is getting ridiculous.

Agree fully Monty - and yes I do understand and respect those people who want to do a full self imposed lockdown. I don't, and won't but will just do my very best to act responsibly.

Even without a lockdown, the government should at least have some kind of measures. For example asking companies to allow for WFH again for the positions which can do so to reduce rush hour trains. Most companies already ended their WFH policies, and they won’t do it without government directive.

Right now, most of the government measures aim to raise person to person interactions such as the go-to campaign, and go-to eat-in scheduled for next month.

Thats actually below normal capacity for hospitals. In order for them to make money they need the beds to be near full. That's how hospitals ran before corona.

And these articles never mention the deaths or the increased testing.

There quite simply will be no economic recovery until confidence in public health is restored. As every (credible) public health official will tell you, error on the side of caution. Once you have exponential spread, it’s too late (Florida anyone?)

I completely disagree with Monty, if we don't have a planned and complete lockdown for 3 weeks, we will need to live this slow paced life with so many precautions until the vaccine is widely available (which in best case scenario can take at least a YEAR).

So, no lockdown means all what he said, not the other way round!

So, that is 237 out of a total of how many tested? 237? 238? As they stand, these figures have no meaning at all.

After CoronaVirus happen and I saw how global governments handle things, I can tell you that there is no more trust. The Lies. The injustice. Treating us all like we are not intelligent. Some say, its the Governments job to keep us all calm. However, we pay them. We pay tax. We feed these people in Government. Put their kids thru college. Cloth them. And they in turn act like we are not to be given much but baby masks that are made in China.

However, we pay them. We pay tax. We feed these people in Government. Put their kids thru college. Cloth them.

The Anglophone gaijin in Japan are a microscopic fraction of the tax paying population. They could all stop paying taxes and it would not be noticed.

If any group of foreign nationals can say this, it is the Chinese who at 780 thousand plus outnumber all other national and language minorities.

As for reporting by fax, it is not a Japanese peculiarity.

Bottleneck for U.S. Coronavirus Response: The Fax Machine - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/upshot/coronavirus-response-fax-machines.html

This recent Japan Times article discuss death rate in greater detail for those truly interested:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/21/national/tokyo-coronavirus-deaths/

Furthermore, the data on reported deaths is available fairly readily via Google, as are numerous articles discussing excess mortality and difficulty securing post mortem testing for covid, as many have pointed out.

With regard to those who claim a lockdown will damage the economy, a cursory Google search will likewise reveal that there is far greater consensus amongst the scientific community thay corona virus poses a serious health risk than there is amongst economists that lockdowns are any worse for the economy than attempting 'business as usual'. In fact, from my limited research it appears that a large proportion of those writing on the economic impact of corona observe that lockdowns are probably more beneficial for economic recovery, given the way the virus is continuing to impact the world currently. Its not difficult to see why; if countries followed the NZ model, locking down asap and staying that way until there was legitimate and provable control, those countries would be able to resuming normal economic activity with each other. Pretending any country can save its economy on the back of domestic consumer activity alone betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the modern economy. Frankly, i think the current economic arrangements were doomed from the moment this pandemic began, because greed has allowed us to build a structure which cannot cope with this event.

worrying, not so much for the people infected right now, but because it means that obviously it is not being controlled properly.

And now we should go to events and eat out?

I’m so confused ...

Given we are almost 2 months after the lift of the SOE the numbers aren't bad at all.

Tokyo for whatever reason manages life with corona just fine.

The death rate is low, people will catch the flu or covid or whatever is out there and life will go on, it must.

@Ashley Shiba: What continues to mystify me is that you are going into places like your ‘food court’, for water?

Surely this is something you could purchase online, wipe the package down with alcohol wipes and not have to be in a crowded environment. I find your comment quite hypocritical. As for your son, have you considered home schooling that many in Europe had and are having to do.

You are very quick to complain but do little about it other than preach about others bad behaviour.

“The death rate is low”

How do you know?

We’re being blatantly lied to about the number of actual cases, so what’s to stop the government from lying about the death toll?

Kitchener Leslie　

can you please prove your post that the govt is lying about death toll in Japan?

(unless you will say I can't prove it because the govt is hiding it and so my next question is how do you know?)

Its not difficult to see why; if countries followed the NZ model

Stopped reading right there. If the experts you are following can't tell the difference between a New Zealand and a Japan, they are no experts at all.

Important that there will be no laid-back attitudes towards the corona virus. It will not disappear by itself. We all know How fast this virus spreads if it is allowed to roam freely. I have always been impressed by Japan for years for wearing face masks during the flue season and most are doing so now. But somethings gotta give in these times and the willingness to do so important, for now, Even if it robs of a little freedom now. An investment for the near future. If not, we will have an endless situation. And the government should take on the responsebility by being honest and open with the public. Only then can we work together in the effort to make things better.

@therougou A fair point, there are significant differences between the two countries. I meant the New Zealand model insofar as treating the suppression, and where possible elimination, of the virus as the primary public health AND economic objective, rather than trying to treat them as some sort of dichotomy.

I should mention I am a New Zealander, and have constant contact with friends and family there. While there are still significant impacts from the damage to international tourism and trade, the domestic economy in New Zealand is now recovering relatively well. There is still likely to be a recession, which of course only further illustrates my point that the virus is the cause, and therefore it is our economic interest to act aggressive to suppress it.

But alas, this is just an English language comment board for a Japanese news website. We are all here because this whole debacle is frustrating, and none of us really know how it works out. To be honest, I really hope I am wrong and it all comes to nothing. I just don't have that much faith.

It seems higher levels of infections are notified earlier in the day, than those of lower ... is this intentional or just a misconception ?

Soapland places, must be doing great business these days, since cleanliness is of the upmost importance. But that would sort of contradict the Nightclub scene that Soapland thrives within..

Tobias J GibsonToday  10:16 pm JST

@theResident I think you missed my point, namely that lockdowns are not the source of the economic distress we are seeing globally, the virus is. Our best hope, in my opinon, is act sooner rather than late

I agree with the Resident

First the articles you cite state targeted lockdowns would leasen the burden on the economy not blanket lockdowns like we have seen around the world.

Second both studies assume the virus will if unchecked have dramatic effects on the ability of people to work and on the healthcare system, neither which has thankfully occured in Japan.

And finally did you go shopping in golden week? Il answer for you, no you didn't, why because all the shops were shut.

If you went last weekend you might have noticed the crowds of people.

I am not an economist but I would guess open shops make more than closed shopps.

And don't answer empty shops for a short term is better than 50% sales long term, because if we have another lockdown so many shops will go bankrupt there won't be any shops left to reopen.

Hello Kitty 321Today  06:14 pm JST

So, that is 237 out of a total of how many tested? 237? 238? As they stand, these figures have no meaning at all

Have you heard of google?

16500 tested in japan, 631 positive there that wasn't hard.

And yes we know the real number of infections is higher, its higher in every country.

From day one the goal is not to overwhelm the health system, not to give you a pinpoint number of infections on a daily basis.

@ theResident

What continues to mystify me is that you are going into places like your ‘food court’, for water?

So we should assume you are not a resident of Japan (or just know a limited amount of place). If you were you should be aware without explanation that there is supermarket selling jar, which can after be filled and refilled for free in the supermarket and these supermarket could happen to be in big commercial mall which include food court and depending where you are coming from you could have to cross it or pass by it on escalator to reach the supermarket to fill water.

Do you need explanation about what is a food court in Japan ? (you put it in '' so perhaps that is also troubling you).

No point in reporting numbers anymore the issue is out of their control. We need a total lock down. Prison style for 8 weeks called martial law. We need medicine and treatment of this virus it has been spreading around since last year of November and yet no mechanism of treatment is being announced? Answer is total lock down. Just need to give it a try it never hurts to try to resolve an issue.

you should be aware without explanation that there is supermarket selling jar, which can after be filled and refilled for free in the supermarket

You should be aware that what you are refilling your jar with is simply filtered tap water. Why not just put a filter on your tap at home, then there's no need to carry heavy jars of water around and no need to go to a crowded mall.

Filters of all kinds are available online.

Invalid CSRF

the capital struggles to strike a balance between restarting the economy and controlling infections.

not possible if you don't have 20,000 test a day or more

the capital struggles to strike a balance between restarting the economy and controlling infections.

not possible. what balance?

@Vinke very good point. And I forgot about the whole less testing on weekends thing. So once again, that would explain it.

@cleo yeah, I do that with the tap at my home as well. I put on a filter, so that way I don’t have to get plastic water bottles. Because with all the plastic in the ocean, that’s the last thing that we need, more unnecessary plastic.

“Kitchener Leslie　

can you please prove your post that the govt is lying about death toll in Japan?“

So magically the number of deaths in Japan is much lower than other countries? Believe that fairytale all you want.

Japan govt has been lying about the actual number of covid cases for months. Why would anyone believe the number of deaths is so low? Because Mindo?

@Flute:

That wasn't my point as you well know. I am aware of that, but I filter my own water at home. My point was Ashley and her attitude to lockdown - she constantly contrdicts herself. By her own rules she shouldn't be going out! I suggest you read her comments over the last few weeks!

@carpslidy

First the articles you cite state targeted lockdowns would lessen the burden on the economy not blanket lockdowns like we have seen around the world.

Second both studies assume the virus will if unchecked have dramatic effects on the ability of people to work and on the healthcare system, neither which has thankfully occurred in Japan.

And finally did you go shopping in golden week? Il answer for you, no you didn't, why because all the shops were shut.

If you went last weekend you might have noticed the crowds of people.

I am not an economist but I would guess open shops make more than closed shops.

And don't answer empty shops for a short term is better than 50% sales long term, because if we have another lockdown so many shops will go bankrupt there won't be any shops left to reopen.

As my first post was removed, here are the originally cited articles:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/29/coronavirus-8-month-structured-lockdowns-may-halve-economic-damage.html

https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/05/15/1589548783000/Is-the-virus--not-lockdowns--doing-most-of-the-economic-damage-/

Here are some further articles from economists, scientist and other experts speaking to the false dichotomy between sound economic policy and public health:

https://giftshopmag.com/news/nrf-says-stopping-the-virus-remains-key-to-restoring-sound-economy/

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/04/08/998785/stop-covid-or-save-the-economy-we-can-do-both/

Here are some models run by Nobel laureate economist, Paul Romer, illustrating how global frequent testing and targeted isolation is the best decision for both the economy and preventing the spread of the virus:

https://paulromer.net/covid-sim-part1/

'I saw people shopping last week' is hardly a cogent counter-argument. The majority of small businesses are still reporting massive downturns, and some are even operating at a loss. Many business owners are undertaking debt, either private or government, to stay afloat. I know this as I work for one such business, and am close with owners and proprietors of many others.

How long is that sustainable? Economic activity will remain suppressed so long as the virus keeps international trade and tourism essentially locked down, and consumer confidence and fear over public health limits domestic spending. If the government made suppressing the virus its primary focus, and introduced some form of restriction (perhaps in line with the above models), while offering further stimulus to keep the economy afloat, many consumers will feel relieved and ergo more likely to engage in the economy as the situation improved.

Finally, the Japan model is clearly not working on either front - the economy is still crumbling and now the virus is resurging. And while we are clearly not the U.S., we can't discount the possibility that we could become something like them. Taking that risk as some sort of palliative measure for the slowly dying economy seems ridiculous. We need to take the necessary actions such as increased testing and greater suppression measures now, so we can get the economic and health benefits sooner.

We all know by now, that (thanks to the use of fax machines and black marker pens) there's a lag of couple of days in the figures, and that the low numbers are from less testing being done during the weekends. Therefore there's no need to rejoice over lower numbers because of less testing, or make remarks like "topped the 200-mark for the first time in three days", as it is to be expected. Rather state things as they are:

"There were 168 cases reported on Monday, but as these results are from tests being done during the weekend, during which there is usually less testing being done, the single-day figures have expectedly returned to over the 200-mark."

(You could also add that without the fax - marker pen - phone - fax - marker pen - fax limbo there would probably be much more capacity to conduct much more tests, revealing the reality, i.e. way more cases.)

I agree. The number of cases would be waaayy higher if they tested more. This is all because they still stupidly think that the Olympics will go through.

The number of cases would be waaayy higher if they tested more. This is all because they still stupidly think that the Olympics will go through.

I thought this may be the case at the start. But as I see the numbers, and I read about the methodology behind the Japanese testing, I'm becoming less inclined to think they are hiding anything. You're right that more testing would expose a greater exposure rate, but the way they are looking at it in Japan is that if someone isn't exhibiting the symptoms, then chasing them down and testing isn't always beneficial. My cousin in Canada said it's the same there - she was in an area where there were exposures, and when she tried to get tested, they told her they're only testing when people have symptoms. Her area of Canada (Vancouver) has done well with their covid response.

I think it's human nature to think more testing = better, but the epidemiologists seem to have reasons to think there are merits in doing it other ways.

I thought this may be the case at the start. But as I see the numbers, and I read about the methodology behind the Japanese testing, I'm becoming less inclined to think they are hiding anything. You're right that more testing would expose a greater exposure rate, but the way they are looking at it in Japan is that if someone isn't exhibiting the symptoms, then chasing them down and testing isn't always beneficial. My cousin in Canada said it's the same there - she was in an area where there were exposures, and when she tried to get tested, they told her they're only testing when people have symptoms. Her area of Canada (Vancouver) has done well with their covid response.

I think it's human nature to think more testing = better, but the epidemiologists seem to have reasons to think there are merits in doing it other ways.

That's a very fair point. And well taken.

But I've also heard of alot of people who tried to get tested and can't for whatever reason. I don't know. But regardless, the numbers are much higher than are being reported. That's all.

My cousin in Canada said it's the same there - she was in an area where there were exposures, and when she tried to get tested, they told her they're only testing when people have symptoms. Her area of Canada (Vancouver) has done well with their covid response.

I know. That's where almost all my family is. I thank god everyday they are in Van and not in the US or even Montreal