A conference to assess the coronavirus situation in Tokyo is held at the metropolitan government headquarters on Thursday. Photo: KYODO
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Japan prepares for COVID state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo

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https://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-covid-19-bears-heavy-on-japan-s-suicide-rates-highest-level-in-5-years-due-to-pandemic-related-economic-troubles-2855644

This is what worries me more than Covid

3 ( +21 / -18 )

There is a cluster at the back of the room...

13 ( +17 / -4 )

What about some photographs showing the collapsing healthcare system rather than yet another press conference!

16 ( +21 / -5 )

Why wait for Golden Week to implement these measures?

Its urgent, take action ASAP.

Beyond ridiculous.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

So they aren’t going to close Schools. I see Yoshimura has completely left any mention of that out yesterday and today, while using it in the past.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Suga has said the declaration of the country's third state of emergency, following those in April last year and January, will not affect the staging of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, reiterating the government will continue efforts to ensure they are "safe and secure."

Priorities J-Gov. Again you are being complete idiots. Cancel the Olympics and turn all these large venues into large-scale vaccination centers. Get with it!!!

30 ( +31 / -1 )

@kurisupisu. Believe me , the real cluster , causing that all, is hidden around the center of the photograph. lol

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I can not believe they double down on this nonsense. None of these briliant ideas they have for "emergency measures" have any other effect than destroying the economy and making people more sick. I suppose some international pressure to fall in line in order to have the Olympics plays a role.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

with just three months until the Tokyo Olympics kick off.

Lets be honest, it won’t kick off.

This new “State of Emergency” in Tokyo will be longer than that week they are talking about.

There are no conditions to prepare for the event. Its not a matter of if it will happen, but when it will be cancelled and what will be the official reason for it.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

This will surely deal with Covid once and for all.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

This is what worries me more than Covid

I agree.

Especially during Golden Week, when people deserve to relax from their stressfull work.

If they close departement stores and amusement Parks and Pachinko, of course people will travel to the next possible "Open-Prefecture".

What is in a way understandable.

People need to stress out.

Everyone who works in Japan in a japanese company knows what that means, and how important it is to stress out.

-6 ( +10 / -16 )

I am closing my biz again! I doubt I will receive any compensation this time.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Its poorly handled from the beginning, but look at the facts Japan is performing much better than some other nations.

Fewer deaths per 1 million than many other.

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

77 Deaths per million, so how serious really is this pandemic?

Destroying many livelihoods ................................

-7 ( +11 / -18 )

People need to stress out.

Everyone who works in Japan in a japanese company knows what that means, and how important it is to stress out.

’Stress out’ doesn’t mean what you seem to think it means.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

I send hugs and prayers to all those in Japan. I wish you all the best!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Suga has said the declaration of the country's third state of emergency, following those in April last year and January, will not affect the staging of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, reiterating the government will continue efforts to ensure they are "safe and secure."

It is really sad when at the end of the article you see the real purpose of the measures which are not intended to protect the population but more to carry out the Olympic Games.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

’Stress out’ doesn’t mean what you seem to think it means.

I am working since many many years here in Japan, as an only foreigner among 1500 japanese co-workers, in a japanese company.

Believe me, I know what it means....

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

I am working since many many years here in Japan, as an only foreigner among 1500 japanese co-workers, in a japanese company.

Believe me, I know what it means....

English isn’t your first language. I apologize.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

emergency declaration after emergency declaration..

It's getting quite boring now tbh!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@Bob Fosse

English isn’t your first language

Yes correct.

Sorry, maybe I missunderstand your post.

@Vreth

Thanks for your explanation.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Full lockdown for a couple of weeks, open up vaccination centres and cancel the Olympics... then concentrate on getting the virus levels right down. And test, test, test!

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Ironic isn't it? Preparing for an emergency? LOL

11 ( +11 / -0 )

J-Gov stooge #1: "It looks like we need another SOE"

J-Gov stooge #2: "Yep, looks that way."

J-Gov stooge #3: "But we've got a steak dinner and hostess bar night set up for next week."

Official J-Gov Release: "A new SOE will be declared starting from GW"

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Agree with Monty.

The politicians steal the vacations and stressing out time of workers.

And this has been the case for nearly each vacation (except for the Go To in fall), when politicians are asking people to refrain moving.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

If they actually allowed people with symptoms to get a test, they would have a justifiable reason to self-isolate and not further the spread. Try telling your Japanese boss you are going to take 2 weeks off because you feel tired and have a cough.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

“Full lockdown for a couple of weeks, open up vaccination centres and cancel the Olympics..”

You really want to give Japanese police the power to enforce that, given the power they already have?

Domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, divorce will go through the roof.

That is not the answer

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

“Destroying many livelihoods ......”

Exactly, I’ve met people this has happened to

0 ( +8 / -8 )

And that photo... was it taken during nap time? Sure looks like they're all nodding off.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

At this point it would be irresponsible to attempt to host the Olympics or Paralympics in Japan in three months when cities including Tokyo are requesting a state of emergency be declared due to Covid-19.

Better to pass this time, and get preference to host in the next Olympics up for consideration. It is certainly not Japans fault there is a world wide pandemic. Only how it has chosen to cope with it may be questioned.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Peter14

Yes.

With the 14-day quarantine when traveling to Japan, the Olympics will not see many foreign visitors. IOW, what is the point...?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@P.Smith

well I am traveling back to Osaka from Fukuoka on Shinkansen right now. In this carriage nobody is wearing a mask. Granted only 9 in the carriage, but it’s pleasing to see regular folks haven’t turned potty

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

People must resist this medical tyranny. It not the governments job to decide when and when not people are allowed to have a life.

-12 ( +8 / -20 )

P smith

Mask don't work and prolong usage is bad for your health.

-19 ( +5 / -24 )

Another meaningless state of emergency. The country with enormous resources could have inoculated a substantial amount of the population by now. I am angry with these hopeless politicians.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

People must resist this medical tyranny. 

Oh yes, those tyrannical doctors who save people's lives and try to help everyone! How dare they!

Mask don't work and prolong usage is bad for your health.

This would be funny if it wasn't actually dangerous. You can ask Herman Cain if masks work or not. Wait, you can't, he died of covid he caught, maskless at a Trump rally.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

I don't need a study to know masking is unhealthy. All you have to do is listen to your body after wearing a mask all day, rather than the fear pushing media. It isn't healthy.

-16 ( +4 / -20 )

“I don't need a study to know masking is unhealthy. All you have to do is listen to your body after wearing a mask all day, rather than the fear pushing media. It isn't healthy.”

Most sensible post I’ve seen all day

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

And how about the other dense populated area like Tokai? Nagoya/Gifu city/Toyota are a big agglomerate as well or the virus will just skip the area?

I can’t get the login in the J-gov.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

sorry “login” logic

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Government has broken the social contract. They are becoming tyrannical and setting the president to who gets to operate a business and who goes bankrupt and not.

They have over reached their role in our lives. Japan being not as bad as other countries but this is a world issue. The virus is not the problem, the problem is the media and the governments and all you folks hooraying in big tyrannical government hiding behind their "experts" and "doctors". I know doctor that absolutely disagree with what the government is doing.

Freedom is more important than your fear of living.

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

Besides, I don't need a study to know masking is unhealthy. All you have to do is listen to your body after wearing a mask all day, rather than the fear pushing media. It isn't healthy.

What do you do if you need a dentist? listen to your teeth?

10 ( +16 / -6 )

That's not even a good analogy

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

Freedom is more important than your fear of living.

Freedom is very important, I absolutely agree.

Why do those who scream most loudly about it squander theirs by spending so much time telling other people what to do on forums?

3 ( +9 / -6 )

That's not even a good analogy

It makes about as much sense as it needs to.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Very unhealthy to wear mask all day.

Doctors and surgeons have been wearing them for years all day around hospitals and they don't seem to die by the thousands. People who work in laboratories too. And people who work in food factories as well. Isn't that funny?

I don't need a study to know masking is unhealthy. All you have to do is listen to your body after wearing a mask all day, rather than the fear pushing media. It isn't healthy.

Great, now next time you get really sick, please do not go to a hospital. Because pretty much all they do is based on "studies", and you don't need them. Just listen to your body and cure whatever you have by yourself! :)

12 ( +16 / -4 )

There are two ways to fully (nearly) suppress the coronavirus: 1) Achieve near-perfect compliance with social isolation and 3-C measures for about three weeks. 2) Fully vaccinate the population of Japan. By not doing either the door is open to new variants of the virus. In the Tokyo and Osaka regions variants have already become dominant. It is only a matter of time before a variant appears that can defeat the vaccine. Who will win this race?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike said Thursday, "We cannot suppress (the spread of the virus) in the way we did before. Stronger measures are needed."

And what did you do before? Suppress tests.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

I see the panicky old women are out in force again. We keep being told about 'cases', but who cares? Surely it's deaths that matter. And there are fewer than 40 a day. There have been fewer than 10,000 people killed by Covid in total. In a country of 126 million people. For God's sake let's get a grip.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

This new “State of Emergency” in Tokyo will be longer than that week they are talking about.

I guess you never followed the play book of past SOE. The number of tests will gradually be reduced resulting in lower number of infection and everything will be attributed to the SoE the uniqueness and effort of citizens.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Save lives.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Jaspc, doctors only wore them when they were doing surgery. That's why they are call surgical mask. They have not been wearing them all day everyday. Have you ever been to a hospital pre covid?

I wasn't saying listen to your body instead of seeing a doctor. Your making no sense. For example, maybe you take up smoking in the 1940s and the doctor recommended you a certain brand, but if you listened to your body (it's a figure of speech) you would realize that they are not good for you. Or your working out and your knees start to hurt, maybe you should stop working your knee. It does not mean you physically put your ear against your knee to understand to stop working out.

It's common english expression. Listen to your body.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Everything is under control they say, we're taking extreme precautions they said.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

When I have more chance of dying from corona than from dying in a car crash Ill start to worry. Until then I honestly don't care.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

Jaspc, doctors only wore them when they were doing surgery. That's why they are call surgical mask. They have not been wearing them all day everyday. Have you ever been to a hospital pre covid?

Jaspc also talked about your objections to ‘a study’

If, god forbid, you ever need surgery at some point in the future, I guarantee 100% everyone in that room will be wearing a mask and 100% everything they are doing is the result of ‘a study’.

Listen to your body is a common English expression, correct. But it shouldn’t be used to replace science and expert advice. 1940’s opinion on smoking is your point?

Medical opinions change, based on science and research and ‘a study’

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Someone is taking you for a ride. It doesn’t mean you need to drag everyone else on the crazy roller coaster.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

LORD Help Us.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Just a question...

How do you PREPARE to declare a state of emergency?

We are either in a State of Emergency, or Not.

I guess they need a Hanko from Dentsu?

It's Fukashima et all all repeated....No need to worry, until...next Monday. We're fine, we're all fine.

Now in this case, most of us are just fine, I just feel frustrated and sad for those who are not fine.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Half measures = half-arsed.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The government are stupid having the Olympics. They should just cancel it and get on with the vaccination effort. The Olympic dome would make a great central location to begin vaccinating the entire Tokyo population. Sports venues across Japan could be used in the same way. spend the money that will be wasted on an Olympics nobody wants on getting people vaccinated now!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Time to put up or shut up, either cancel the Olympics, or shut up about Covid.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I can't believe the mind set of the posters here. This virus is spreading like a wild fire and is very deadly and they are complaining of working to dig their own graves. Personally I think GW is the perfect time to shut the country down because this is the time most of the country goes dormant anyways with the acception of people traveling. Since no one can travel, now would be a good time to shut everything and everyone down. If the government could provide the people with money during that shutdown period to buy food and necessary items and provide some kind of in home entertainment to keep the kids and parents entertained that too would help. Don't use the shut down to get the numbers down for the Olympics if not nothing is going to change and the Olympics will only make it worse.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This useless when not done on a national level.

People will just travel to prefectures without emergencies to hold nomikais, parties, and large events. You bet that a significant portion of the population would be more than willing to travel 2-3 hours to get their all-night drink parties. Also many restaurants are almost definitely going to be ignoring the order, as remaining open in the emergency will generate significantly more revenue than the penalty of 300,000 yen when all the other businesses are closed, and the general population demand for drinking would barely drop.

This Golden Week simply will be packed with people traveling to the non-emergency prefectures.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What's vaccination herd immunity? 02.2%? 02.4%?

Almost there, just a few more moths to go! Ganabatte Nippon

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The availability of hospital beds is strained. What other options are there besides an SOE? Private hospitals won’t help.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Time to put up or shut up, either cancel the Olympics, or shut up about Covid.

The only way they can have the Olympics is with medical staff. Medical staff who could be treating people who are sick with Covid or inoculating others against Covid with vaccines we have been told have been bought and will be available. For this reason, it is undeniable that the Olympics will hinder the fight against the pandemic. That's before you even talk about the risks of the events superspreading or new cases and/or variants being imported by people who aren't being quarantined.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The only way they can have the Olympics is with medical staff. Medical staff who could be treating people who are sick with Covid or inoculating others against Covid with vaccines we have been told have been bought and will be available. For this reason, it is undeniable that the Olympics will hinder the fight against the pandemic. That's before you even talk about the risks of the events superspreading or new cases and/or variants being imported by people who aren't being quarantined.

Yes, this.

Also compounded with what is looking to be a very hot Summer. 26 degrees in April is not usual.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Yeah close all malls and restaurants while allowing people to take super crowded trains like sardines! Japan will never be able to effectively bring the infection rate under control because of all these half hearted approaches!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Jeez... They still think it's time for talk of possible action in several weeks time? The time for action is now.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Albert Einstein:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Stagger working hours and the number of people allowed on the trains. Will never happen though.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Jaspc, doctors only wore them when they were doing surgery.

And also when dealing with patients with respiratory or very infectious diseases. And dentists have also been using them for years. Have you ever been to a dentist pre-covid?

I wasn't saying listen to your body instead of seeing a doctor. 

That is exactly what you're saying. All the doctors tell you to wear a mask, and you're saying "No, because I listen to my body."

3 ( +3 / -0 )

oh boy another meeting! Let's all just ignore those people clustered in the corner (which can't be ignored). Where are the people that are actually doing something?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Too Little, Far Too Late!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I am infected with COVID-19 so, so much for the hoax. I am in isolation this is day 2 since popping positive with antibodies to COVID in my system. I have to admit Saga Health Center has been amazing at providing me with a nice room, free water and coffee Internet TV Wifi. Oximeter tools to check my body temp, blood pressure all made by Omron. Meds for symptoms which are very light at the moment. I hope stay that way. I actually think I was carrying the virus for some time. I felt my allergies were kicking up behind the mask a bit. as precaution had a PCR test done a popped positive. I am told I will remain here for 9 more days and after that I can return home and back to work. Japans approach is obviously a heard immunity approach. Well at least here in Saga it is. And no I have no ideas how I contracted the virus, I was carrying hand sanitizer, washing hands, avoiding touching face, Some of the best masks that fit snug over the nose and mouth. I must have spent 40.000 man on masks. But the first day I felt tired and sick to my stomach.

If you have it too. Good luck.

Thank you Saga!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

My American buddy and his Japanese wife are moving home to the US and just got off the flight yesterday. They get their shots tomorrow.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Are deaths suddenly skyrocketing?

No - the number of "cases" is going up. And we all know that these tests - at least the PCR type - are producing far too many false positives.

So why these emergency declarations?

Adults are acting like children.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And we all know that 

Always be wary of people using this phrase or similar ones like ‘let’s be clear’. It’s usually followed by an opinion.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But, Olympic Covidfest is fine, as long people are on lockdown like rabbit in cages..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

25psot

But, Olympic Covidfest is fine, as long people are on lockdown like rabbit in cages..

I do not see what the problem with the Olympics is supposed to be. The athletes are young and healthy and not affected by this virus. Foreign visitors will not be there in any noticable numbers, and the locals that go to events will all be masked up and well-behaved. All the events will be televised, so how does that pose any virus risk (unless you believe you have to mask up for a Zoom meeting, like Biden does).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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