Japan's state of emergency lifted as COVID infections decline

It will be interesting to see how the number of infections across Japan develops in the coming weeks.

It will be interesting to see how the number of infections across Japan develops in the coming weeks.

with test numbers under control, you can't come to any conclusion

Ridiculous keeping the bars and restaurants restricted. Of course few in Tokyo follow it anyway but rural prefectures mostly did. Who wants to go travel when they still have to close at 9?

Long overdue - the measures under the SOE were never based on any serious numbers or science and boiled down to fun shaming and self-flagellation.

The hypocrisy and double standards show that the government was not fit for the task.

The one silver lining, and not to be understated, is the vaccine roll out which, once it finally started, has been well understood and executed very well.

Commuters walk out of Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on Friday morning

just like every morning.....

Wow. I expect to see everyone out tonight, popping their metaphorical corks.

In fact, I popped out to celebrate early this evening and bumped into this very ‘tired and emotional’ UK expat. Seems like he’d been going at it all day (and probably since early 2020). I told him ‘everything in moderation’ which didn’t go down well. Mumbled something incomprehensible and ordered another pint.

Take care everyone, be rational, and get vaccinated!

Hoping most people feel safe enough to get rid of these masks. I've truly become sick of wearing them daily.

Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency was fully lifted on Friday, making it the first time since April that the entire country is not under the measure to curb infections.

PLEASE stop with the "fake news" If it was truly fully lifted there would be ZERO restrictions!

The government will continue for about a month to ask restaurants and other dining establishments to close by 8 p.m. but those taking sufficient anti-virus steps can operate until 9 p.m. 

In case you havent noticed, this here is a restriction!

Yes, after they changed their reporting methods. All according to plan, as the PM elections are right around the corner!

The government will continue for about a month to ask restaurants and other dining establishments to close by 8 p.m. but those taking sufficient anti-virus steps can operate until 9 p.m.

So... we're still in State of Emergency. Hooray... sigh.

The selfish will be out en masse no doubt. As they have been for the past year. Not a single drop of consideration for those who lost loved ones.

People die, life goes on for everyone else. Japan and the rest of the world (with a few exceptions cough Australia and New Zealand) are learning to live with COVID, just like the flu, whether you like it or not.

Steve in Japan, are you a medical expert or is this just your two cents worth?

   It will be interesting to see how the number of infections across Japan develops in the coming weeks.

It will increase at some point, why not. But there is a good news - Merck announced a "phenomenal" medicine against covid. It works 50% better than placebo when taken during the first 5 days of infection. I guess they will call it Pferdmecktin or horsepastivir.

@akadake

Japan has approved treatments from 2 companies that are 85% effective and have been credited by the government for keeping hospitals from being swamped since the first one was deployed.

Japan has approved treatments from 2 companies that are 85% effective and have been credited by the government for keeping hospitals from being swamped since the first one was deployed.

This is really an excellent news then!

Business as usual. Everyone wants to get back to the way things were before covid, just be safe covids is going no where and the numbers will tick up again and Japan will be right back where they started from AGAIN

I host USJ management quite often and it’s been an open secret that the park has entertained up to 17,000 guests a day for some time.

Any number ever quoted in Japan is dubious at best, unless there’s a fax sitting on a table at the end of it.

The proof is in the pudding

Hopefully soon .. my friend from France will be allowed to visit me and bring me the Chanel scarf he holds for 2 years

Great!

the sooner they allow people to return to their normal daily lives the better!