The Tokyo metropolitan government on Saturday reported 38 new coronavirus cases, down one from Friday and 10 more than last Saturday.
The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is two, unchanged from Friday, health officials said. The nationwide figure is 37, up three from Friday.
Nationwide, the number of reported cases was 322. One coronavirus-related death was reported.
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- https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html
23 Comments
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Nadrew
Not so bad yet. But, I believe we are in for the next wave with the Omicron variant being so contagious. Whether this is good or bad - I don’t know. Perhaps, if the cases are not severe it’s a good way for everyone to get their immunity up. My wife and I have had 2 doses of vaccine and are scheduled for the booster in March. I’m not confident going out at all…
Kumagaijin
Pundits, podcasters, and health experts are scratching their heads globally as to why Japan hasn't yet experienced a new wave of infections. South Korea has just as many vaccinated, yet their infections have exploded. Some people are suggesting an "x factor". Japanese genenics or perhaps an even less mild form of Covid has circulated giving the country herd immunity.
Zaphod
....and THAT is the story. As Omicron "infection" rise, expect the press to focus on those numbers, instead of reporting the hospitalization, which will continue to be low. I countries that are ahead of the curve, we see that with Omicron these two factors are completely decoupled.
SJ
The Washington Post also reported that no one knows exactly why covid cases in Japan keep plummeting.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/22/japan-covid-omicron-falling-cases/
I speculate that Japan has already reached herd immunity following India, probably mainly through infection, with help of vaccination:
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/positive-rate-daily-smoothed?tab=chart&country=JPN~IND
If Japan needs to conduct similar antibody tests as India did a few months ago:
https://www.thequint.com/coronavirus/more-than-90-percent-have-antibodies-against-coronavirus-report-union-government
Iron Lad
Very high for a weekend!
Be careful, everyone!
Raw Beer
Perhaps herd immunity as SJ mentioned. But many experts are also pointing to a recommendation made the Tokyo Medical Association chairman in August.
TheDalaiLamasBifocals
The many experts that talk in your head? Ivermectin doesn't work.
But you do realize it is made by Big Pharma all the same
jder
My Japanese teacher told me in March 2020 Japanese people were immune to covid and I thought he was just a racist. Turns out he might have been right :O
hattorikun
“If the experts compare the number of tests done in Japan and the other countries they may understand why Japan is reporting (not having) so few cases.”
It could be the case as you mentioned but if the situation were to be bad, we would have felt a lot more miserable. Reality is not. So to be fair we apparently have had relatively lower infection rate than other countries for sure. We have barely changed our daily activities (except of course extra care in terms of personal hygiene and social distancing)
virusrex
Yes, because during active outbreaks where numbers can change quickly it is important to know the trends in number of infections instead of waiting until deaths already elevate and there is much less things that can be done. This is only surprising for people unable to understand the value of prevention.
Even the highest realistic estimates (10 times more cases than the number detected) are still less than 15% of the population, in comparison the almost 80% of people being vaccinated is hugely more important, if someone eats 3 large pizzas and drinks a glass of juice at lunch every day and get diabetes, you would not say the reason is mainly the juice "with help" from the pizzas.
virusrex
Zero experts are not "many", which is understandable because recommendations do not magically work by themselves as if they were magical spells, general speaking nobody is using ivermectin, even if you like to misrepresent it as if it were common. Therefore this can be safely said it a no-reason.
Not really, the only factors being discovered until now are shared with contries like South Korea, if they are unable to stop big waves there then that means it is not as important as some people want to believe. Almost universal social distancing and a late vaccination (that ended up keeping high efficacy until now) are more likely to be the reason.
falseflagsteve
Virusrex
Universal social distancing has not occurred in Japan since the first SOE, in fact the opposite compared to most nations. Unless of course you have evidence to disprove this from experts.
Raw Beer
That might explain the low number of cases, but not the low number of Covid hospitalizations and deaths.
Raw Beer
@TheDalaiLamasBifocals
Hmmm, who should I believe, you or the chairman of the Tokyo Medical Association?
BTW, Big Pharma isn't very much into selling generic drugs.
ian
But what do they compare so they may understand why Japan is reporting so few deaths
ian
Interesting, thanks!
Mitsuo Matsuyama
The number of cases are higher than last week, but the number of hospitalized people is 2. In other words, this number has not being changed for some weeks.
Oxycodin
Sounds like great news! Just because they have a snizzle doesn’t mean they are covid positive as remember jland has a poor test system I’m sure they don’t know the difference between a cold virus and this CCP virus. Make sure not to get labeled incorrectly..,,stay safe
Iron Lad
@Mitsuo Matsuyama
Nice catch!
EuroJP
I wonder why is Japan yet on European Union list as "high risk country".
You should be all glad to be in Japan. Life is so normal here. Look at EU where totalitarian regime is growing. EU use digi passes to control population not the virus. Whether vaccinated or not, both group can spread and get it. More and more countries require pcr tests for those groups regardless of status
Link to one of the news so you will see i'm not theorist
https://nltimes.nl/2021/12/24/rivm-stricter-quarantine-rules-effect-friday
I respect people decisions. I don't let those who try to divide us to do so. European Union leaders, Presidents and Premiers of individual countries discriminate and promote division between people for the sake of virus. How can leader call someone who is just asking questions and do own research to call anti-vaxer or right wing etc. Some of you do the same here. Stop it!
I used to think before the same way (is and they ) but not anymore. Those who supposed to care repeat the same words all over again. "anti-vaxers, pandemic of unvaccinated, right-wingers. How dare they? These are not leaders. It means there something wrong in all these events that are happening
No leaders should call to divide society. EU breaking their own laws by doing so. The worse is that many people fall into it including families who become enemy for each other. R-E-S-P-E-C-T Respect !
I read a lot too and have my ownopinion which is what it is However, I don't push someone or tell what's best for them or because of them something happens to others. It's not my decision, not my life.
Merry Christmas Everyone