Japan to introduce online system for reporting coronavirus

Doctor: our patient is showing COVID-19 symptoms. We’ve confirmed several symptoms and crossed off other illnesses. Let’s give the a PCR test.

Admin: Okay. I will fax over the request form for approval.

Doctor: did you receive approval?

Admin: No. a fax hasn’t come through yet. We are still waiting.

In the rest of the world people are buying new monitors too help them work from home. In Japan people are buying fax machines.

@Concerned Citizen There are many more deaths, but the faxes have been lost or are invalid because of missing stamp. /s

I hope the Faxoids will hurry and go the way of the dinosaurs.

Despite Japan's high-tech image, many businesses and government offices still rely on fax machines, generating documents on which officials can stamp their approval with traditional hanko seals, and leaving a paper trail.

A paper trail that can be shredded anytime without fear of repercussion.

An app probably isn't going to help if they still won't test people.

What it takes for Japan's obsession with the fax machine

Fax really come on Japan get over the Fax

"The IT environment for public health had taken a big step forward,"

Ummm... yeah, while the rest of the world took off in rockets long ago. I'm surprised some aren't suggesting they bring back pagers (pokeberu) for health reports.

None of other countries' business whether Japan uses fax or not.

Oaky, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the 21st century and not the mid-20th century.

Japan: It worked once so we’re sticking with it.

In my previous job we faxed up to 10 times (my record was 12) back and forth with our suppliers. In the end it looked like the notes of Leonardo da Vinci, arrows flying back and forth across the paper.

Once the system hung up and spew out the same fax over and over until I got an angry phone call telling me to stop wasting their paper... Nothing I could do!

This system really needs to go.

Welcome to the 20th century.

Concerned Citizen - Whatever the Japanese are doing must be working so far. Deaths/million population...

Japan: 4

UK: 405

USA: 199

Italy: 467

Germany: 80

Well done Japan.

Japan has done very little testing for the virus. The low number of deaths directly attributed to the virus are low due to the low amount of testing. It's all a big smoke screen for both the international and domestic media.

A health ministry official said the new reporting system

YAY! Welcome to what South Korea started doing about 3 months ago!

You think Japan has problems?

We're on 27,000+ deaths in the UK.

さすが日本・・・

Back in 1995 I was doing all my banking from my Hard Line home phone, welcome to the 20th century Japan.

I was shocked when I was told I need to get a HONKO to open a bank account back in 1997, and still getting shocked every time I use my Hanko!!!

Some people love fax machines because it gives the the sense of security when they hold that paper in their hands. It just feel different than a digital info that could run away from them someday LOL.

Its funny and I've witnessed Japanese people call the receiver to confirm they have received the fax instead of relying on the transmission report/confirmation.

Is the fax the reason why so many suspected of being infected are not being tested? This online reporting system is not new, as many countries have been using similar online reporting system since the beginning of the pandemic. It does not matter whether if it fax or online reporting if suspected patients are not being tested. Abe needs to get off his "superior complex" mentality.

Concerned citizen:

What you fail to mention is that Japan is doing far far worse then its neighbours, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

A paper trail that can be shredded anytime without fear of repercussion.

True. Or the trail can be called invalid because it lacks the requisite stamp. But a wikileaker can find an online trail any time.

If the disease is asymptomatic then testing the many would go a long way to preventing transmission.

However, if it is not ie coughing spreads the virus, then it is a waste of time and resources to test.

Also, is herd immunity fact or fiction?

Influenza produces antibodies which prevent infection again.

Is Covid-19 an exception to this rule?

The result of not knowing and being ignorant is fueling fear and creating economic damage as we all know.

Research needs to be done asAo to clear up these discrepancies.

Also, is herd immunity fact or fiction?

Influenza produces antibodies which prevent infection again.

Is Covid-19 an exception to this rule?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-04-17/coronavirus-vaccine-ian-frazer/12146616

The ABC has received many questions around how long immunity lasts and whether someone can be reinfected.

So is antibody response critical to whether or not a vaccine is going to work?

To answer this we have to go back to what we know about coronaviruses that cause the common cold, according to Professor Frazer.

"Yes, you get antibodies after a [cold] infection, and yes it lasts for a while, but it's not lifelong... sort of months rather than years," he said.

"I think it would be fair to say that the natural immunity that you get after infection from this coronavirus is probably going to turn out like the coronaviruses we've seen in the past.

"There will be some natural protection over a period of months, maybe even years, but it won't be lifelong.

"The good news is that if you get reinfected with the virus a second time some months down the track, there will probably be enough immunity there to stop you becoming seriously ill."

@Pukey2

Concerned citizen:

What you fail to mention is that Japan is doing far far worse then its neighbours, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The stats below (if accurate) agree with you on HK and Taiwan. Sth Korea is doing slightly worse than Japan.

But my point is that Japan is doing far better than most of the developed world including my country. So I'm grateful for that.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

No thanks. I'll take my right to privacy (long after this virus is tamed):

https://youtu.be/k5OAjnveyJo

Would you care to elaborate on that?

There are interest groups who benefit from this virus pandemic. The same is true for Japan.

None of other countries' business whether Japan uses fax or not.

the faxes have been lost or are invalid because of missing stamp.

You can stamp on faxes and fax them back.

Japan has done very little testing for the virus. The low number of deaths directly attributed to the virus are low due to the low amount of testing. It's all a big smoke screen for both the international and domestic media.

It seems many Asian countries have low number of deaths.   USA and Italy are deliberatly increasing the number of deaths.

Whatever the Japanese are doing must be working so far. Deaths/million population...

Japan: 4

UK: 405

USA: 199

Italy: 467

Germany: 80

Well done Japan.