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Workers express frustration as Tokyo enters 4th COVID-19 emergency

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Thank you for damaging again the well deserved summer vaccations of the people.

But let us all be happy and welcome the thousands of peoples who will enter the state of emergency for the Olympics.

38 ( +48 / -10 )

I wonder how the figure is compiled. Is it the number those who felt sick and visited doctors and found positive in PCR test? Doctors and hospitals are obligated to report it to the health centers.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

When we tell our grandkids, I don't think they will believe that we lived through a period of such incompetence: go2 travel in mid pandemic (because somehow Japanese were immune to the the virus?), foot-dragging on vaccines (because because somehow Japanese bodies might respond differently?), and total obedience to the IOC (to show that Japan had recovered).

Time for new leadership

52 ( +60 / -8 )

Do 4 ‘quasi’s’ equal a whole? - (We’d need a ‘expert’ to do the math!)

15 ( +22 / -7 )

I wonder when and if the door door vaccine enforcers are coming to Japan like Biden's America.

This instruction smacks of military or law enforcement building clearing activities, and its purpose seems clear: To canvass the entire building and record the locations of people who refuse vaccines.

The obvious question becomes: Why would the government need a database of the physical locations of people who refuse vaccines?

The obvious answer is: Because they plan to come back, and they need to know where these people are located.

There are really only two logical reasons why the government would come back: 1) To force vaccinated these people. 2) To medically kidnap them and take them away to Covid quarantine centers, almost certainly run by FEMA.

-51 ( +7 / -58 )

I still have vivid memories of the first SOE. Tokyo was, comparatively speaking, a ghost town.

Each successive SOE seemed to be less effective. So my guess is that this one will be an SOE in name only and people will just carry on, knowing that there are no penalties for noncompliance.

Any government with self respect and/or the remotest possibility that they may be unseated in the next election might actually be perturbed by this. However, the LDP clearly doesn’t give two hoots.

38 ( +43 / -5 )

This was not the promise that's Prime-minister suga made. He said no Olympics if the corona virus numbers are high. Suga did not kept his words.

36 ( +46 / -10 )

Gee, who’d have thought?

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Oh good, that will save us all.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

I still have vivid memories of the first SOE. Tokyo was, comparatively speaking, a ghost town.

Each successive SOE seemed to be less effective. So my guess is that this one will be an SOE in name only and people will just carry on, knowing that there are no penalties for noncompliance.

Any government with self respect and/or the remotest possibility that they may be unseated in the next election might actually be perturbed by this. However, the LDP clearly doesn’t give two hoots.

very well said! the 1st SOE also saw schools close which was effective, and saw people pushed hard to work from home. There was a sense of emergency and it worked. Suga and his minions are not taking the SOE seriously anymore and it is showing.

22 ( +27 / -5 )

 Suga and his minions are not taking the SOE seriously anymore and it is showing.

More like you can't keep crying "wolf" and expect people to run for cover. You have to actually do something. Full vaccination is still less than 30%.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

History will remember the Olympics held during a pandemic-induced SOE. A sign of victory of corporations against regular people. This should be a lesson for no city to ever apply to hold the games again, ever.

28 ( +31 / -3 )

I am coming to know why the government and organizations stick to holding the Olympic stubbornly. It is not because as they say they hold the Olympic to prove human beings overcoming the pandemic. But it is because there are so many stakeholders involved in the event.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

More like you can't keep crying "wolf" and expect people to run for cover. You have to actually do something. Full vaccination is still less than 30%.

well said!

2 ( +7 / -5 )

n Tokyo, major commercial facilities including department stores will be asked to close by 8 p.m. Attendance at large events such as sports games and concerts will be capped at 5,000 people or 50 percent of a venue's capacity, whichever is fewer.

Most department stores do already close at 8.

Spectators allowed at sport events, but not at the Olympics. What a contradictory measure. Oh, I forgot, the Olympics venues are not part of Japan

11 ( +14 / -3 )

This March, when Japan's second state of emergency was finished, PM Suga said never use state of emergency again.

Fourth state of emergency tells his incompetence again.

22 ( +25 / -3 )

Let’s all keep the thought and wisdom of Prime Minister Suga. Please enjoy watching the Olympics on TV. Just like the people in Greenland.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

No, that isn’t going to happen in Japan just like it IS NOT happening on the US.

Please stop spreading misinformation.

Actually according to Biden’s lovely press secretary it is going to happen. It is definitely not misinformation. I listened and watched her say the words.

To what end, wasn’t mentioned. But a ‘door to door vaccine education plan’ was most definitely announced.

I personally don’t believe it will lead to “forced” vaccinations but there is going to be some quite heavy handed coursing and quite possibly, ultimately the restriction of movement/services of those who are unvaccinated.

Why plan to gather information and data on this if it’s not planned to be used somehow in the future? In the absence of any clear plan on how it’s going to be used, we can only speculate. And that’s what we will do.

hmmm what would I do if I were a woke, extreme progressive authoritarian administration… ?

-21 ( +5 / -26 )

With the measure, the government aims to curb the movements of people during the Tokyo Olympics and the summer vacation, including Japan's "bon" holiday in mid-August.

Did this work last year? But Japan is bette set up for door to door enforcers than the US will deploy.

Just have the NHK collectors hand out vaccination appointment applications.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

this side of the isle doesn’t exactly have a good track record when it comes to telling the truth. Especially in the last 10 years or so forgive me for mistrust and not hanging on every word they say…

That you even think this is an indication of what you’d do.

I’m quite pragmatic. I remember a time when that was a good quality. I guess ultimately we will see eventually…

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

On the Yamanote line now (I need my company’ faster wifi to upload a large amount of data.). Not at pre-Covid levels but definitely higher than an SOE with teeth would dictate.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

緊急事態宣言 / state of emergency... what do these words even mean when a huge, completely not essential global event such as the Olympics is allowed to go ahead, meanwhile my local Dotour coffee shop is deemed a danger and forced to close at 8pm. Sigh.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Quasi or full SoE, doesn't really matter. Last order was already at 19:00 or 19:30 so no different at all. And if restaurants and bars wanted to ignore the full of quasi SoE, dance clubs are still open till 6 in the morning so... Yeah, that's that.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Why is all the SOE news focused on banning alcohol and not increasing vaccines?

13 ( +16 / -3 )

"Tokyo enters 4th COVID-19 emergency, covering Olympics period"

Oh, have we? I wouldn't know because nothing seems to have changed in my neighborhood. It's been life as usual for over 6 months now. People aren't like light switches where you can turn them on and off as you please

5 ( +7 / -2 )

monty:

Thank you for damaging again the well deserved summer vaccations of the people.

Don't you see? Staying at home and watching the Olympics all day is supposed to be our summer vacation.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Didn't Suga say a few times that Tokyo Olympics 2020 (in 2021) were gonna be a symbol of humanity being triumphant over the virus? True everyone knew those were just politician words. Still, that's another slap on his face.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

When we tell our grandkids, I don't think they will believe that we lived through a period of such incompetence: go2 travel in mid pandemic (because somehow Japanese were immune to the the virus?), foot-dragging on vaccines (because because somehow Japanese bodies might respond differently?), and total obedience to the IOC (to show that Japan had recovered).

Japan has done well and seen far fewer cases compared to other countries so in a sense

they were and are still immune to the virus even the ravaging delta variant. Even Suga himself

said it that Countries with complete lockdowns still had higher cases than Japan but what he didn't

say and nobody was bold to point out to him was that Japan have under tested while those countries

with higher numbers out tested Japan.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

I wonder how the figure is compiled. Is it the number those who felt sick and visited doctors and found positive in PCR test? Doctors and hospitals are obligated to report it to the health centers.

I don't know what the actual laws or rules are but I know several people that had Covid-19 in Japan or that coworkers had covid-19 and their companies got the testing done in private labs then paid all the bills telling these people not to use their health insurance in order to not report it.

These businesses feared that if people found out covid was present in their offices, hair salon, juku, restaurants, etc...they would lose business and have to close.

So were these cases reported? No idea but seems to me if the companies are avoiding using the health insurance system, there must be a reason and not reporting is top of my list of reasons.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Japan has done well and seen far fewer cases compared to other countries so in a sense

Has it really?

Look at the numbers, regardless of how low/few tests Japan does daily we seem to always come back with the same positivity/infection rate.

10,000 tests in Tokyo or 2,000 test in Tokyo the same rate of positive cases and not weeks or months apart one day 9,000 tests the next day 5,000 test both days 10%~15% positive.

This cannot just be because of selection criteria for testing.

This suggests if Tokyo tested 50,000 a day we are still going to see 10%~ 15% positive.

Other countries with have of Japan's population test 300,000 a day while Japan at this point can barely average 60,000.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Don't you see? Staying at home and watching the Olympics all day is supposed to be our summer vacation.

I would rather drink battery acid than watch anything to do with the Olympics.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

Words words words. Meaningless.

Just get people their vax and we can stop this nonsense.

It’s real simple.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

If only there were some kind of vaccination...

10 ( +13 / -3 )

vanityofvanitiesToday  07:03 am JST

I wonder how the figure is compiled. Is it the number those who felt sick and visited doctors and found positive in PCR test? 

Exactly, that avoids to count the huge number of people that may or may not be sick, or shows symptoms but don't go to the doctor. If they did 100.000 tests a day the numbers would be worst for sure.

And do not forget that in Tokio the relatives of a virus casualty can choose to NOT to say so in the medical report.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Can anyne confirm what the difference is between a "State of Emergency" and a "Quasi-state of Emergency"?

I'm asking because I live in a prefecture with a quasi-state of emergency, but my idiot boss wants us all back in the office in central Tokyo, which I believe is in a Full State of Emergency.

Can anyone confirm where I should tell him to stick it?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Pragmatists don’t make unsubstantiated claims such as the Biden admin is “ a woke, extreme progressive authoritarian administration.”

The only part of that statement that is subjective would be the “authoritarian” comment. And even then, there would be plenty examples that could be argued on.

everything else is as plain as day if not proudly stood by.

Anyways, this particular thread of comments doesn’t belong here. This is about Japan and the USA.

to keep it relevant, to the original question

I wonder when and if the door door vaccine enforcers are coming to Japan like Biden's America

No, I don’t believe this will happen. Japan has already shown that it respects its own constitution by not unlawful enacting laws laws during the SOE. Only strong recommendations were made and it was up to the people of this country to follow them or not.

Currently there is no indication that this will change. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it won’t.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

And “not” the USA I meant

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

In Tokyo, major commercial facilities including department stores will be asked to close by 8 p.m.

Yup. that should take care of this covid thing once and for all.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I wonder when and if the door door vaccine enforcers are coming to Japan like Biden's America

Interesting, I haven't heard of anyone being denied service or anything else because they are not vaccinated.

On the other hand my family is now in a situation because our dentist now refuses to treat anyone who has been vaccinated or even has a family member Living with them that has been vaccinated, she fired all her staff that got the vaccine and is refusing to finish the root canals she started on my wife because my daughter got vaccinated.

So my wife now has a partially done root canal with a temporary filling not fully cleaned if the remaining nerve and because of unfounded anti vaxxers fears the dentist won't even finish it.

So guess which group I see as more of a danger.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Just have the NHK collectors hand out vaccination appointment applications.

Just tell them your sick and they will go away.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Amazing how most have not figured out that pre-Coivd living standards are NEVER coming back! It is simply easier to watch them be fooled and hurt themselves than to convince them they have been fooled and are hurting themselves. Please go get your booster in a couple months!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Amazing how most have not figured out that pre-Coivd living standards are NEVER coming back! 

Actually it will but like past pandemics it will take time, as vaccines improve and are available, more treatments are found and available, things will get back or move forward, like past pandemics.

The problem is some want this to happen overnight and that is not going to happen,

The present situation will improve but the effects will be around for a few more years.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The state of emergency is completely same as before. People can go and do anything except drinking outside at late time. State of emergency is just a request from government. Reason is Japan doesn't have a martial law and a curfew so police can't arrest people and put them in cage either.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@Kwatt

Didn't the previous state of emergency close gyms, some cinemas and some shopping malls?

I live next to a prefecture gym which has indoor football/basketball court, etc, and that was closed in the last SOE, but this time the gym, etc are open and people working out, playing football, basketball etc without masks.

I'd understand that some private gyms and such not close, but this is a government run facility that is operating as normal (well, it's closing at 8pm instead of 9pm, but nothing different otherwise)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ expat

Thanks for the WP article link. Particularly like that part:

"The Games will take place “at any cost,” Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee, has said, as if she were Churchill and this were 1941."

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@ashley shiba

i had the same experience at the mall this weekend. I was grocery shopping in the basement and saw four restaurants full of people with their masks off. I’m talking all ages, from babies to 80+ years old.

my prefecture has a very low number of corona cases right now. How can that possibly continue though when people have just given up.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Why the complaints? They should be used to it by now.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Holding the Tokyo Olympics amid the covid pandemic threat is about corporate revenue, not the athletes:

This is the case for every Olympics, pandemic or not

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Adam

my gym is opened but everyone is required to wear masks. there are at least three or four gyms in my immediate area and they all require that.

@jojobird & ashily shiba

restaurant full of people not wearing masks seems kind of normal to me as everyone is sitting and eating… we need to remove the mask to put food in mouths.

I don’t understand your shock and surprise here

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Can someone explain why people on here are blaming the Olympics for the latest rise in Covid numbers and subsequent SOE, when the event has not even started yet?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Didn’t the results from that previous Japanese supercomputer study data show that mass events were safe?

We heard of the study but not the results-how convenient!

But wait!

Yesterday, England had two massive events:Wimbledon and the European soccer finals.

Packed stadiums and legions of fans not wearing masks.

Packed venues all across the country too

The difference between Japan and England?

We know the answer by now…

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Can someone explain why people on here are blaming the Olympics for the latest rise in Covid numbers and subsequent SOE, when the event has not even started yet?

It isn't the running and jumping and swimming and throwing things in an empty stadium that spreads the virus.

All kinds of folk from all over the world are already coming to Tokyo - and being dispersed all over the country - subject to infection prevention measures that are at best as secure as a leaky colander. There are also folk from all over Japan who are in Tokyo to organise things, and plenty other folk who are travelling in to the event sites, mixing and matching viruses and then travelling home to their families on a daily basis.

The running and jumping and swimming and throwing things event hasn't started yet, but the Olympic Effect has been growing for a while now.

Add in to that the attitude of Taro and Keiko Eburiman, that things can't be so bad if they're still going to have the Olympics so why should we have to disrupt our lives for any SoE, let's just carry on as normal.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Can someone explain why people on here are blaming the Olympics for the latest rise in Covid numbers and subsequent SOE, when the event has not even started yet?

Many reasons but the number one is it keeps alive the "foreigners are the danger" and the " virus variants will enter Japan" via the Olympics.

That way the government and the people can pretend that Delta, etc...are not really here.

See how simple that is.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Icing on the cake. They were already frustrated working 90 hours a week and only making ¥300,000 a month.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@cleo

Add in to that the attitude of Taro and Keiko Eburiman, that things can't be so bad if they're still going to have the Olympics so why should we have to disrupt our lives for any SoE, let's just carry on as normal.

That is one of the major problems and I believe it is the point you are trying to make. Declaring a state of emergency and disrupting people's lives and livelihoods is a serious thing to do at any level. However the government simultaneously declaring a state of emergency and inviting 70,000 to 80,000 people from all over the world during that state of emergency and a global pandemic is the issue.

I do not even take the declaration seriously because of the Japanese government's actions. Taro and Keiko Eburiman are correct as they probably also see how ridiculous this is. Most of my Japanese and non Japanese friends and acquaintances think the same.

The state of emergency has no meaning at all if the Olympics are being held at the same time.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I remember the heated discussion sometime in March when it was said that there wouldn't be another round and the LDP fanboys countered by saying how we had it under control and everything would be fine by the Olympics or the fall at the latest. But the realists were careful to raise the point that it was going to be exactly the same here as in other countries, maybe even worse because of the way the state of emergency was being handled. And look, here we have the 4th round.

But no, few people wanted to listen, it was more about emotions and those who came with facts and figures were not heard. Oh, my God, shut down the pachinko parlors and karaoke! End of the world!! We cannot let that happen!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Tokyo will be bouncing in and out of SOEs for years. The only way to control this virus is by staying home and stop giving it hosts. Nobody is prepared to make the big sacrifice and stay home to stop the spread of the virus. As a result, the virus continues to spread at over 10,000 new cases every week in the greater Tokyo area. Close schools, pubs and restaurants and only leave essential services open for 2-3 weeks and watch the virus disappear. The community at large will complain about it, but it is they who are responsible for the virus spreading. The vaccinations are not the silver bullet they are banking on.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

All pointless with workers packed to the rafters on the morning trains.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

So much cynicism and conspirational nonsense derived from not knowing what the hell is going on. Regardless of what is going on, get vaccinated, if possible. I know some of you think your anti-viral fortresses, but just maybe your family, friends, colleagues and schoolmates are not so invincible. Don't overthink getting vaccinated (if you can), wearing a mask (which you can) and learning to curb your desire from immediate, unbridled "freedom and immediate gratification." The virus does not write splenetic messages on social media, it just spreads indiscriminately to the proud, the sophist, the righteous, and the defiant despite your indignities and desire to be right. We are all frustrated with this government, but the one thing we can do is take care of each other, as best we can. Our fates are connected at the hip.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

In Tokyo, major commercial facilities are obliged to close by 8 p.m. Attendance at large events is capped at 5,000 people or 50 percent of a venue's capacity, whichever is fewer.

5K sounds like too many . . . .

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hey! What else is new. My wife and I are still waiting to get our appointments for our first vaccinations while my parents and relatives in the States have already gotten both doses. Talk about slow and incompetent. At least there, you don’t need a card and an appointment. You just show up.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Workers express frustration as Tokyo enters 4th COVID-19 emergency

Of course! They were never going to receive any benefits at all and receive all of the misery!

It is called socializing the losses and privatizing the profits and is the modus operandi for government and business worldwide.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This is utterly horrendous. We have basically been under some form of ES for the past 3-4months and things have not improved. But businesses no longer force WFH. And now we are asked not to go out for another month at least. This is unbearable. At least give us some economic stimulus, since you earning that profit from the Games, ffs. Incompetent, mingling bastards.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

All this for a virus with an IFR of 0.15%... it's embarrassing how hysterical it has become

And a 25% mid to long term post recovery problem that range from mild to severe and life long

Yep 25% of those in all age groups and health categories that get covid suffer mid to long term and many permanently health problems.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Yeah and I'll be drinking all night in Shibuya because, I don't care anymore and because these SOE's are unenforceable and most of the bars and clubs are still open all night long.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Wobot Today  04:44 pm JST

All this for a virus with an IFR of 0.15%... it's embarrassing how hysterical it has become

It'll only get more embarrassing. This is being done on purpose to frighten and disrupt people enough to get them to accept greater control on their lives. The virus is just an excuse, and vaccines are just a tool.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

After a year and a half, Japanese people express frustration? I have to give it to them. They are a race of steadfast people. Give credit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

All this for a virus with an IFR of 0.15%... it's embarrassing how hysterical it has become

Indeed, it's almost as if this whole response has nothing to do with our health....

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

didouToday  08:04 am JST

n Tokyo, major commercial facilities including department stores will be asked to close by 8 p.m. Attendance at large events such as sports games and concerts will be capped at 5,000 people or 50 percent of a venue's capacity, whichever is fewer.

Most department stores do already close at 8.

Spectators allowed at sport events, but not at the Olympics. What a contradictory measure. Oh, I forgot, the Olympics venues are not part of Japan

I would assume that the people are stood outside the baseball games every week with placards such as "Baseball will kill us all". I mean if they're not, it would undermine the whole anti Olympic protest based on it being a super spreader event.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

All this for a virus with an IFR of 0.15%... it's embarrassing how hysterical it has become

Millions of deaths say what is the really embarrasing thing. Considering their deaths inconsequential is simply not something to brag about.

This is being done on purpose to frighten and disrupt people enough to get them to accept greater control on their lives.

Except for the part where science completely supports the information being spread, and there is no proof whatsoever about the supposed conspiracy except the completely personal beliefs of people that reject the conclusions of the scientific community.

Indeed, it's almost as if this whole response has nothing to do with our health....

Flawed conclusion also product of trying to reject scientific conclusions without the necessary evidence, it is the same that creationists, homeopaths, climate deniers, flat earthers, do all the time, say everybody is wrong but them, and blame a supposedly world wide conspiracy about which no proof is ever presented.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

""We ask the people for their understanding and cooperation as the declaration this round is to make sure we prevent the nationwide explosion of infections until vaccination progresses,""

SURE, if you know what you doing!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

*Workers*** express frustration as Tokyo enters 4th COVID-19 emergency**

Three people were interviewed and named in this article, but ok, I'll roll with it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

obladiJuly 12  07:05 am JST

When we tell our grandkids, I don't think they will believe that we lived through a period of such incompetence: go2 travel in mid pandemic (because somehow Japanese were immune to the the virus?), foot-dragging on vaccines (because because somehow Japanese bodies might respond differently?), and total obedience to the IOC (to show that Japan had recovered).

Time for new leadership

PM Suga needs to man up to the greedy IOC now. If he doesn't then he's shirking his duties to the Japanese people and is being a coward and he must resign NOW.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The pandemic has done to Japan what it has everywhere else, it exposed weaknesses and exacerbated & amplified already in place trends. The weakness here in Japan was an incompetent pool of leaders, completely inept for an international crisis of any sort. If the Japanese don't take this as a wake up call to change your leaders from a group of navel gazing, xenophobic old men, what will do it for you Japan?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The pandemic has done to Japan what it has everywhere else, it exposed weaknesses and exacerbated & amplified already in place trends. 

Everything Will be back to normal soon..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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