Tokyo reports 7,289 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 47,470

We can't inoculate ourselves out of an ever persistent pandemic

Primarily because we can't inoculate ourselves, there simply isn't enough capacity for everyone at the same time.

And tragically, even if able to, some don't

We are now reaching the point of Governments giving up, and essentially saying "Deal with it!", which is perhaps correct. 

Takes a lot of resources to try to control and mitigate pandemic and it's effects, especially if significant parts of the population don't cooperate and even disruptive.

Fortunately it still doesn't seem to be the case in Japan

Good to see number of daily deaths continue to go down even if in a slow pace.

Now averages are down to only around the peaks of prior waves

Great to see the subservience to mask wearing is waning.

The last sentence of this article should have been the headline. In Tokyo alone, around 2,300 people died each week from various causes in 2019. The news media needs to stop scaring people, and Japan needs to fully reopen its borders.

Hopefully you will come to your senses and one day look back upon how ridiculous you are and the absolute madness you write here.

Amen. Do you read what you write?

game over ! Time to move on….case numbers are no longer relevant!

Don’t recall ever hearing how many people had the flu or were in hospital with it but looks like they are doing it with Covid….

Steven

Good to hear youre being a man and protecting your family and the kiddies you play with.We might see an upturn in cases with BA2 but I doesn’t matter, it’s no more deadly than Omicron, the least deadly variant yet.

Don’t need any benefits . I live and work in Japan. Hence , my immediately and most severe concern is for my wife and children. Also , I’m a kindergarten teacher, so is my Japanese wife . So we do our part for the safety of all but particularly, children . Statistics as related to any other country have no meaning in Japan . While omicron might be less severe in other countries, in Japan …. Omicron is the deadliest variant of Covid to date .

Omicron will infect all of us and will provide robust immunity to future variants. 

"Everybody will catch omicron" is certainly the strategy most countries have decided on. Predictions in January had 60% of the world catching omicron by this time*. Is this the best way out of the pandemic? Seems to be the way we've decided to go anyway.

Estimates put the rate of asymptomatic cases at somewhere between 80%-90% of cases** (i.e., most people won't even know they have it). 

In other news, Spain have said they they will only count severe cases going forward*** - perhaps Japan should follow their lead? Might help people unwind a bit.

*https://www.dw.com/en/covid-have-we-reached-the-peak-of-omicron-infections/a-60399206

**https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2822%2900100-3

***https://www.thelocal.es/20220310/spain-to-stop-counting-covid-infections-except-for-serious-cases/

Let me be more specific for Steve's benefit. Factually speaking, regardless of age, health status, race or country of residence, if you personally are infected with omicron BA1 or BA2, you are far LESS LIKELY to suffer serious illness or death than you would have been if you had been infected with previous variants.

Factually speaking, if you are any age, or any health status, your are LESS LIKELY to die or suffer serious illness than you would be if you had been infected with previous variants.

Commonly known facts : In JAPAN, we went through Alpha and Delta with only healthcare workers and most Seniors vaccinated. Total vaccination rate was 27%. The total vaccination rate today is 84%. We started and are stuck in Omicron with the vast majority of people vaccinated. Yet this calendar year , 1/3 of all Covid deaths are this year . With vaccines ? If your definition of “less severe” doesn’t include total numbers of deaths , then I suppose you’re right . I and the vast majority of responsible people define death as most severe. There’s no recovery from dead . Now , imagine how much worse it would be had the vast majority of responsible adults weren’t vaccinated.

Steven - how about “less severe” does that work for you?

Omicron is more transmissible (hence more cases), but doesn't result in more deaths and serious illness. That was Delta. Coupled with vaccines the Omicron wave has seen less deaths - certainly in the UK and Europe, although there are more people with the virus now.

Facts are stubborn things . In JAPAN, Omicron is the deadliest variant of Covid to date. This is unique from other countries. 1/3 of all deaths in Japan from Covid are this calendar year and are the Omicron variant. That’s less than 3 full months out of 27 months since the pandemic began .

Isn't it long settled science that Omicron does not target the lungs? 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/02/new-studies-reinforce-belief-that-omicron-is-less-likely-to-damage-lungs

Yes… and less deadly, but I know that sets some people off.

wondering "meaning" of these "news".who really wants to know until latest details can check government websites and rest of us dont need to be annoyed by same pattern of "informations" every single day...

ok great so open up already alot of peoples businesses can’t take much more

Excellent.

Great to see the masks outside start to come off. I especially hope school children will be mask-free soon. The risk/reward is firmly against masks for the fit and healthy.

Let’s get the nonsensical travel restrictions lifted ASAP too. Long overdue to get back to following the science.

“Most seem to be happy to get on with life.” Really ? That’s amazing because I don’t know of a single person who doesn’t want to “get on with life.” Most being the responsible majority of adults who are vaccinated and continue to do their part to keep themselves and others healthy . Who thinks like this ?

“Omicron will infect all of us and will provide robust immunity to future variants. Those at high risk should consider booster shots, the rest of us should make our own minds up, stay healthy, don’t become obese and exercise daily.”

Based on that patently false statement, there’s only 120 million people to go. “Robust Immunity?” The vast and responsible majority are vaccinated and the highly irresponsible and tiny minority are not . Does anyone seriously want to or think we should all gamble and catch the deadliest variant of Covid in Japan to date? And the future healthcare related issues that could result from being infected ? Premature kidney or liver disease? Diminished lung capacity? The biggest reason we can’t “move on” and get over this pandemic is because of the thought processes and irrational behaviors of the tiny minority who are anti everything as related to Covid . Luckily schools are closed now . But as of today ? There are 172 school aged children in my city alone with Covid. So no…. The end is nowhere in sight and until it is, I think the responsible majority will continue to do our part .

Good lower numbers. Beautiful weather here in Osaka, out on bikes for the day. There’s a very small amount of people still concerned by Covid, most seem to be happy to get on with life and enjoy the weather.

Okinawa numbers still very high.

This is bad news for Japan as a whole.