Gov't leaning toward ending Tokyo area state of emergency on March 21: report

I'm over here still wondering why "infection rate" numbers should influence this (or any other) governments' COVID policies since this disease has an over 90% survival rate?

Why are they drawing a line between xx number of infections = xx number of beds are required...whether or not most people actually ever require treatment?

SOE to be lifted on the 21st Great...just in time for the 4th wave of COVID.

Who pays these idiots to make such decisions?!

We, the taxpayers do. LOL

They have to lift the SOE, Olympic athletes and officials are due to start arriving this month. Madness.

"Japan is trying to bring coronavirus cases under control and get vaccinations well under way as it prepares to host the delayed Summer Olympics, now scheduled to start on July 23."

Do you really think the Japanese Government really cares about the citizens or their bank?

And I don't know why some of you criticize the small and useless Abe Baby Masks. The money spent was worth every laugh.

I say, open up Tokyo and vaccinate everyone who wants this ongoing testing of the meds.

The rate of suicides will decrease as well. I hope.

Burning BushMar. 14  05:24 pm JST

Capitalism must prevail, at any and all costs.

Human freedom must prevail at any and all costs.

That includes the freedom to stay home (or go out), to wear a mask (or not) and to get vaccinated (or not).

You make your choice, I'll make mine, and let's respect each other's choices.

I will 100% respect whatever choice you make.

> I totally understand where you are coming from, but I would just ask you and others sharing your approach to please wear a mask if you are in crowded public areas (transit, shopping centers, etc). You may be very healthy, but remember those that have health issues which places them at high risk for the virus. They too, must shop for daily items and take public transportation. I don't think that it is asking too much to respect others.

Best wishes,

It was rammed out here in the hills this weekend with Tokyo folks, 20km of traffic on the Chuo back into Tokyo on Sunday evening. Normal service resumed.

The people of Kanto have already to decided to end the much-urged SoE themselves, so any proclamation won't make much difference. The Morlocks have had enough.

Why does Tokyo have so few hospital beds for COVID patients? Another article indicates there are 41 beds being used in Tokyo for serious COIVD cases, which apparently is a lot. I would think there should be tens of thousands of beds for a city that big. Plus, they have had a year to add more.

Doesn't make sense to me.

The hospital bed usage percentage is down, not the actual number of patients. They ad more beds so percentages go down.

So, they waited until a Sunday when the number of new cases is always lowest to decide that? The Sunday 3/14 numbers for Tokyo are much higher than the previous Sunday 3/7. So, they have decided that the number of cases is going down. It's not a laughing matter, it's how political minds work. They are trying to manipulate reality.

LOL at the above comments. As always you did not read the article:

The number of hospital beds in use to treat COVID-19 patients is falling gradually.

Restrictions such as shorter business hours for restaurants and bars have helped reduce new daily cases in Tokyo to roughly a tenth of a peak of 2,520 on Jan 7 in other words around 250.

Japan beat the covid 19. Get used to it.

Gov't leaning toward ending Tokyo area state of emergency on March 21: report

Ok, just hurry up so we don't miss hanami season, and opening day ceremony seasons in schools and companies.

But then make sure the SOE starts up again after that.

But remember to stop it before Golden Week starts.

And then then make sure to start it up again,

And don't forget to end it right before the Olympics so people think that everything is peachy keen!

Everyone has been vaccinated, right?

No? Well then, what could go wrong?

Too early to say. Please save lives.

Hanami season is fast approaching along with universities going back at the beginning of April. It seems most universities have opted for face-to-face classes this upcoming semester; or at least partial face-to-face. Students will be moving around the country to their university towns. I wonder if we'll see a spike of cases around the end of April or going into Golden Week, and maybe a return to SOE or similar? It must be quite stressful for the first-year university students, or any university students for that matter.

Let’s end this state of emergency and let the “Games” begin.

Japan’s SOE is a farce!

This is not an SOE.

Just end it already and hurry up and declare the next one. All this beating around the bush is stupid. We know when it ends people will just go out and treat life like nothing ever happened, it's spread again, then "scientists" and politicians will act shocked, and it'll take a month to five months to discuss another lip-service lockdown, so just do it already.

How do you know that?

Did you also go out?

Why do you complain that people are going out, when you are doing the same thing?

Yes I am out and about, most days of the week.

In restaurants and bars? No.

Take away? Very often.

Unfortunately my company, as most here, did not join the “remote club”, as the mentality is that it is nothing but “lazy work”.

As you probably know, leaving the fax machine unattended would be catastrophic.

For this reason I have been going to the office every day of the week, as always, doing my best personal prevention and hoping not to get the virus.

If I’d prefer remote working? I wouldn’t hesitate to do it if I had the choice, and avoid the ridiculously crowded trains twice a day.

I believe you got the wrong idea, as I was criticising the SOE itself and not the people who are innocently enjoying their lives out there.

An SOE/lockdown is nothing more than an orchestrated effort to reduce unnecessary outings and gatherings.

This one in Japan deserves all the criticism, as unlike its core idea of deterring people from unnecessary outings and gatherings, it was a measureless SOE, with its only aim being to falsely increase other countries’ confidence in sending their athletes to the upcoming Olympic games, which has been LDP’s obsession for a while now.

In the meanwhile innocent people are suffering from this dangerous and complex virus, with many dying.

What this country really needs is a government of young and futuristic minds - there is no lack of these, trust me.

How about stop posting daily numbers completely

@zoroto/.fuzzy

I finally agree with your on something

You make your choice, I'll make mine, and let's respect each other's choices.

I will 100% respect whatever choice you make

I completely agree, live and let live.

March 21st, that's just in time for hanami season in Tokyo.

And the reason for ending of the SOE is...? It's not like the Covid numbers are going down or anything.

Have you noticed the crowds everywhere, from malls, to train stations, to full restaurants/coffee shops - many with never ending queues outside to get in?

How do you know that?

Did you also go out?

Why do you complain that people are going out, when you are doing the same thing?

The Japanese government extended the emergency declaration for Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures on March 5 by 14 days, saying COVID-19 cases hadn't fallen far enough

Tokyo's seven day average for the week up and including March 5: 273

Tokyo's seven day average for the past week up to and including today: 279

It "hadn't fallen far enough" before so they extended it. Now its even higher than before, so they'll end it.

Yeah, sounds about right.

Have you been out?

Have you noticed the crowds everywhere, from malls, to train stations, to full restaurants/coffee shops - many with never ending queues outside to get in?

Why bother extending an inexistent SOE?

Just someone that never leaves home, or lives abroad and follows the japanese news, actually believes that this State of Emergency ever made any difference in people’s lives.

The SOE in Japan was nothing but a nationwide joke to be able to proceed with the undesired Olympics.

Capitalism must prevail, at any and all costs.

Sure. Why not? What would be the real difference, anyway? Everything is still open, regardless of SOE or no SOE. So, some businesses close a couple hours early, and the last train is 30 minutes earlier. As if that made an appreciable difference.

Testing please. Same price as Abe’s stupid masks, but more than 60% accurate.