Gov't refers to possible state of emergency extension as Okinawa added to list

Yep. This will be the case up until the olympics. And most likely after that...

of course, now that Bach has said that the Olympics are still going on even if there is a SOE- now the gov can extend it. Otherwise it would have been to hell with the people and lets BANZAI our way through the games and deal with the consequences later...which is what they are going to do anyway.

The Japanese government had been doing a great job containing the virus. s/

I agree with @Aly Rustom...now that the IOC has made it clear that they couldn't care less about the people of Japan because money is more important, the J-government doesn't have to worry about the optics of an Olympics during a SOE. Sad and pathetic.

Well put, @Aly Rustom and @A Canadian!

So it's June 20 now

Japanese Government ways of dealing with the virus makes me speachless... its getting depressing day by day...

It's pretty easy to continue doing nothing, especially after the IOC said the Olympics will go ahead regardless.

Even if they canceled the SOE, it would fall back to "stronger measures."

Does anybody remember what's the difference between the two?

My inlaws the whole lot of them have it, 2 in their 70s are in hospital with a fever and pneumonia, other home alone no symptoms. It’s out there take care.

Went to the beach today, went to the mall for lunch. An outsider wouls not even inow there was a SOE. Beach was packed, Mall was busy..no parking.

This isn't going to be over on June 20th. I wonder if anything changes after the Olympics. If they happen.

Okinawa infections most probably come from US bases. They don’t have 14 day quarantines and new military rotation staff and superior mix. Go off base. Meet locals.

some posters here are there. So if I’m wrong, please enlighten us. Can you leave the bases without negative tests?

I'm not USA angry, just love scuba diving and drinking with locals. And the food.

Hoping SOE ends in Osaka, it’s very inconvenient and the numbers have fallen considerably. I don’t see how shortening hours of places does anything but make them more full when open.

In Osaka today everywhere was packed, about half eateries and cafes were closed so the other were full up, some with queues outside. Things should be back to normal but with people being careful. Maybe implement measures in leaders where the numbers increase but why others?

Wearing masks outside in 25 degrees?

They’ll be getting on the trains on Monday with nary a spare millimeter to move around in...

Tourists in the photo? Can't they just stop travelling for now?

Okinawa infections most probably come from US bases. They don’t have 14 day quarantines and new military rotation staff and superior mix. Go off base. Meet locals.

some posters here are there. So if I’m wrong, please enlighten us. Can you leave the bases without negative tests? 

I'm not USA angry, just love scuba diving and drinking with locals. And the food.

First off, most of them are already vaccinated. How’s Japan doing on that? I’ll wait.

Second off, you realize CORONA has around a 2 week incubation period b4 u test positive, So Golden Week where everyone from Mainland visits Okinawa, and then there’s a surge a few weeks later hmmmm.

Look at the Japanese first before you just assume the worst about the guest that the Japanese government pay to host.

Is there a hotel nearby? Why are people lugging their suitcases around?

Is there a hotel nearby? Why are people lugging their suitcases around?

Many hotels on/around Kokusai dorii

Common sight at Kokusai dorii - tourist doing last minute omiyage shopping before getting on Yuurail (monorail from Makishi station for Naha airport) - as they have to check out by 10am from their hotels on their departure date....

I think the government is only stating this is "possible" now as it is the weekend in Europe and they need to check with the IOC in Switzerland before making a final decision.

Once the IOC weighs in a decision will be made.

Went to the beach today, went to the mall for lunch. An outsider wouls not even inow there was a SOE. Beach was packed, Mall was busy..no parking.

I went to the beach yesterday. Very few people there. Was lovely! Had a little bbq with the gf. We enjoyed some beef, pork and even enjoyed some home grown sausage. Great weather for a weekend jaunt!

Guess we have to relinquish all our rights and freedoms at least until the Olympics are over. Kinda sucks but the Japanese people don’t seem to mind.

Hey, I know! We were so successful in spreading Covid-19 with the GoToTravel campaign, let's hold the olympics during the state of emergency! What could go wrong?

About time, too slow..

Think it's pretty clear they aren't going to lift this until after the Olympics. Hope the cancel protests make some headway. It's purely punitive on us just to have their precious Olympics.

Aaaaaand nobody is surprised by this news. At this point, the SoE measures should just become a permanent fixture because lord knows, it ain't going to be lifted any time soon, despite J-gov wanting to "assess the situation" or "discuss with a panel of experts" or whatever other hogwash to make them sound like they've actually put some effort in. In the meantime, they're running their F&B and restaurant industries into the ground what with minimal or no? financial aid instead of focusing on the actual problem, which is companies refusing to allow their employees to work from home.

Anyone from outside of Japan looking in at the horrendously overcrowded trains, the packed malls, busy streets etc. would never think that a type of lockdown was happening because it's not. The SoE is nothing more than smoke and mirrors - an illusion to let the Japanese government think that they're actually doing their utmost to handle this pandemic.

This time next year or even after summer of this year when other countries start coming out of lockdown and people slowly ease back into pre-covid lives and routines; and begin traveling to nearby places, the officials running Japan will be scratching their heads and wondering how they've managed that and why Japan is still cycling through it's 12345th SoE.

The SOEs are ineffective with so many people and businesses ignoring them. They do slow the spread by up to 50%, but the goal should be to eradicate the virus completely. It’s been shown that as soon as the SOE is lifted case numbers immediately shoot up again.

@dothehustle

Yep. Was out all day yesterday, never would iknow there was an SOE.

I suppose it's pointless to mention again that SOE's and lockdowns do nothing and the only way off of this hamster wheel is vaccinations?

This time next year or even after summer of this year when other countries start coming out of lockdown and people slowly ease back into pre-covid lives and routines; and begin traveling to nearby places,

(outside of Asia) all of these things are already happening.

@Goodlucktoyou,

"Okinawa infections most probably come from US bases. They don’t have 14 day quarantines and new military rotation staff and superior mix. Go off base. Meet locals."

Not sure what "superior mix" is supposed to mean but your post is incredibly uninformed. Yes, some military personnel arriving in Japan from the U.S. (unknowingly) bring COVID with them but they are not allowed to leave their installations until 100% cleared and even then they are under very harsh restrictions as to what they can and cannot do off the base...unlike tourists from Tokyo.