Tokyo finds Omicron case in U.S. arrival isolating at home

Japanese news all over this ... what's point of quarantining? The way it's done doe not work. While she's quarantining she gets a visitor who goes out to a soccer match?! .... ZERO POINT.

@jojo - if she saw the person immediately after arrival, I guess she didn’t quarantine

and her friend whom she saw immediately after arrival has since tested positive after going to a soccer game.

If I was writing a movie about how a pandemic enters a country to begin spreading, it'd probably be something like this.

American are hellbent on spreading Covid, why they should not be omitted

All i want is a peaceful holiday. Hope the government contain it at least till spring. Last thing we need is a huge outbreak of people getting sick during winter time. Even if the symptoms are mild.

@jo Jo in japan

Need all over this.

Since you have red it and gave an intelligent comment it means news is working.

Maybe you don't know but Corona has impact on economy.

Also do you want Japan or any other country to go out of control again.

Than your next intelligent comment would be about another lock down because not much is done to prevent.

That's why NZ does limited "managed isolation". many people just won't follow "self" quarantine rules, otherwise.

Better if everyone just puts off non-essential travel, eh. But no.

Ottherwise, this is never going to end.

The men she met immediately after returning also developed a fever and other symptoms. He attended a soccer game with 10 people, including his family and colleagues, before testing positive. His samples were being analyzed for the Omicron variant.

If she met with at least one person that means there was no isolation, so she is in the wrong, the government that allows this is also in the wrong, and the person that goes to a soccer game with 10 other people after meeting with someone coming from overseas is also on the wrong.

Still, this is only the case they found about, if someone do not have a fever (or don't report it because it would mean losing extra days of work) and it is not tested that still means there is a chance of spreading the infection.

it’s everywhere. It’s boring. It’s over for me.

Then again, here you are reading, and commenting.

＠Yrral

Are we sure this person is an American? A traveler from America could also be a Japanese person. And yes, Japanese people can spread the virus too, FYI.

Keep the borders closed, strictly closed, and things like that would not happen.

I mean what do you expect, if you let anyone in.

Checking vaccine status on arrival? Makes zero sense because everyone knows that you can spread the virus even you are vaccinated.

Testing on arrival? That is good, but Quarantine?

How many people violate the quarantine rules.

Another option is to send positive tested people back to the country where they came from. Deny the entry.

But that makes also zero sense. I mean who will pay for that, and people has to be virus free on departure. That means you can not enter an airplane with a positive test result.

Or...let anyone in without any rules, live with the virus and stop whining about increasing cases.

Accept that the virus will be around for all and for good.

Still, this is only the case they found about, if someone do not have a fever (or don't report it because it would mean losing extra days of work) and it is not tested that still means there is a chance of spreading the infection.

especially- if someone do not have a fever (or don't report it because it would mean losing extra days of work)

THIS! think about it. We have around 40% of the workforce who would be in serious financial trouble if they were found out to have covid- Omicron or other variant- and so one has to wonder just how many people go to work with severe symptoms and just gaman because they have to.

I’m going out on a limb and saying that Japan lacks a Covid mascot to get serious about quarantine.

Oh, my US neighbors next door are having a super spreader Christmas party in the backyard as I type this. Yeehaw. The hospitals and ICU’s are 97% full with unvaccinated Delta people and only 50% of the population have gotten two vaccinations.

Fun times. Freedom!

Or...let anyone in without any rules, live with the virus and stop whining about increasing cases. Accept that the virus will be around for all and for good.

After two years you still haven't grasped it. You can't have the virus running rampant, having the hospitals full and still having a fully open economy.

The government doesn't want that, and neither do the people.

'Living with the virus' does not mean 'giving up on the virus', it means living with some restrictions in life like we have had for the past 2 years. Show a little fortitude.

Yeah, it seems to me it would’ve been mentioned if it was an American, but it wasn’t. It’s possibly a Japanese.

By the way, what happened to all of the people sitting in the rows near the infected passenger on the flight? Have they been tested yet?

ZorotoToday  07:48 am JS

So she broke the quarantine. She should be immediately fined and deported. That's what they would do to her in Singapore.

She is Japanese so cannot be deported and the guarrantine is just a recommendation. If she was a foreigner it would mean 3 days in a government designated facility.

The male friend may be the person who picked her up at the airport and drove her home to isolate. (Heard from another passenger who had a friend do the airport pickup.) Those drivers should also be required to isolate. Major pinhole in the condom!

It was reported elsewhere, and because American simply can’t enter, the person was Japanese.

Once the arrival satisfies border requirements, no else associated with this case needs to get tested. If the 3rd party does get tested it doesn’t need to be reported. Plus Japan has long forgotten its claim to case tracking excellence.

So I doubt we’ll ever hear more about this. No one else got infected by anyone involved - they never do in Japan or cases would rise… ummm.. exponentially.

The wording of this article.

Im assuming that this person is not American, becasue they weren't forced to quarantine, but "traveller from America", would suggest they want you to think otherwise.

Well at least the measures agianst African countries worked and kept Omiron out!

Policy makers here are a bunch of buffoons.

It is clear from the Japanese reports that this woman is Japanese. (They use the word, kikoku, meaning returning from abroad. I don't think I've ever seen that word used for foreign residents of Japan.)

The new scapegoat in town. Before each wave one is carefully chosen and dribbled out.

This media and government generated fear for a "new strain" of an illness we've been successfully living and coping with for YEARS is beyond belief.

What purpose does the fear serve? Can we do more than we're already doing? Not really, other than having governments overreact and overreach on what will end up being an effort in futility in the end!

(Don't tell the "fully-vaxed" busily running around traveling (yes, they're the ones bringing the Omicron here from elsewhere), eating and drinking in indoor rooms full of strangers, that they're now the major source of the problem, however! That just wouldn't fit their smug narrative, now, would it?)

Having skimmed through the Japanese news, it is clear that this woman is a Japanese national. This should be made more clear. This article is misleading.

The J news mentioned that,

She is a returnee (ie Japanese national) living in Texas

She was isolating at home

Her boyfriend met her on two consecutive days before developing symptoms

And I forgot,

Vaccinated

Ya know, dogs are smarter than people now.

Obviously, ‘isolating’ means staying apart from others for a period of time-this woman didn’t hence the viral spread.

And vaccine status has zero meaning in Japan at present.

Just seeing on TV, she used a hire car (taxi service) to get home and then the bloke visited her two days in a row (8th and 9th).

He went home to his family, exposing three. Went to work 9th and 10th), exposing 7 more. Started coughing and developed a fever. on the 10th, but took medicine to manage the fever and went to a soccer match on the 12th. Back the office on the 13th.

In the meantime, his girlfriend was already symptomatic on the 9th and that didn't slow him down.

@Zoroto: It's a Japanese citizen. Are you now suggesting Japan deports its own citizens??

She is Japanese so cannot be deported and the guarrantine is just a recommendation. If she was a foreigner it would mean 3 days in a government designated facility.

No, this is wrong, the quarantine is for ALL and depend from your departure point, not your nationality.

And the quarantine is NOT a recommendation, it is mandatory and you are checked upon every day, sometimes several times per day and you are also tracked through an app.

Some municipalities also provide food if you are home alone so you don't have to go out (same if you are sick with Covid home alone).

You can read all the details here on the arrival measures, including quarantine: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html

Expect to see entry and quarantine rules changed today.

And from a political perspective, no leader of any party could be seen as doing nothing. It is what it is.

This is the evidence for Japanese or non Japanese, new entry or re-entry, might bring the virus. Virus doesn't read your status.

it’s everywhere. It’s boring. It’s over for me.

So you keep saying. It must hold some fascination for you.

kurisupisuToday 08:51 am JST

Obviously, ‘isolating’ means staying apart from others for a period of time

Self quarantining also means you can live at home with relatives who are going out.

traveler from the United States, and her friend whom she saw immediately after arrival.......

This is obviously breaking protocol and she should be penalized as such.

From Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website:

In case of violation, they may be subject to detention under Quarantine Act and the following shall apply:

(ⅰ) For Japanese nationals, names and other information that contribute to preventing the spread of infection may be made public.*

(ⅱ) For foreign nationals with the status of residence, names, nationalities, and other information that contribute to preventing the spread of infection may be made public. They may also be subject to the revocation of status of residence and procedures for deportation under Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law. Those who do not submit the “Written Pledge” are requested to stay at a location designated by the Chief of the Quarantine Station (only at the accommodation booked by the quarantine office) for 14 days.*

You can't actually legally force a Japanese Citizen to quarantine. Same reasons we never had a legally enforceable lockdown here.

I don't know what it will take to stop these people from travelling until things are under control. Emergencies are well understood, but all other travels should be stopped until it is SAFE.

@didou

The woman would have been tested negative at the airport and released.

However, immediately meeting various people at home or otherwise without masking would mean the virus has a chance to spread.

Word definitions don’t hold back viruses….

You’ll be crazy if you think that Omicron cases are still coming from the outside.

It was here even before the world learned about it. Delta spread during the strictest of quarantine rules and yet it dominated the pandemic. Omicron will be the same.

Let’s just hope our vaccines hold up.

Gee, Japan's doing testing?

Japanese citizens also have to do a hotel quarantine. I just did a 3-day stay after coming back from the US. The food was delicious!

That being said, this person didn't have to quarantine so they either came from a state not on the list yet, or lied about being in a state on the list

Reckless: "There is no indication she did anything wrong or malicious."

She received visits from her her boyfriend on the 8th and 9th while she was supposed to be in isolation.

experts say it would be a matter of time before cases of community

Of course, it will. You gotta keep'em fearful.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/weve-never-seen-this-before-in-nyc-covid-positivity-rate-doubles-in-3-days-as-omicron-spreads/3454450/

is it possible to learn from other cities experiences?

The ministry urged spectators who attended the packed Sunday soccer game in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, to get tested.

Why was it packed? Have they heard of social distancing?

She’s clever, no idea what the word ‘quarantine’ means hey?!

Without the vaccine, it would have been worse.

Objection!

Speculation.

If she met with at least one person that means there was no isolation, so she is in the wrong, the government that allows this is also in the wrong, and the person that goes to a soccer game with 10 other people after meeting with someone coming from overseas is also on the wrong. 

It's always amusing to see random dudes giving moral judgments of people about what is wrong or good. Anyone would be stupid to think that those silly quarantines were fully respected and that this was not happening on a regular basis particularly among young people. In Japan or anywhere else, people are first of all humans, they are driven by feelings and your hygienist logic is not going to change that unless you are supporting repressive and oppressive measures. So why don't you sometimes, just sometimes keep your fingers far from your keyboard so that I don't need to read your nonsense and poorly thought posts?

@daito_hak

Not often I find myself agreeing with you, but I certainly do with your last post.

Too many people who consider themselves superior and unquestionably right fail to understand that their condescending attitude probably does more to aggravate and abet the situation, and goad people into not following the transparently ill thought-out rules.

I'm sure this lady (and many others in similar situations) had her fair share of armchair experts opining. This is the seemingly inevitable result. If you treat people like children, they will, more than likely, act up. You're not giving them a reason not to, so as logic would go 'WTFN'.

The same quarantine rules should be applied and enforced uniformly to all entrants from overseas regardless of nationality or departure location. In my view, it doesn’t make sense to have different quarantine requirements based on for example which US state you‘re coming from. All countries should be treated the same. You either have contracted the virus or not. Decide upon a suitable quarantine period and apply it to all. Also, diplomats, service members, and other officials should be included. You either apply rules consistently across the board or just forget about the whole quarantine thing.

American are hellbent on spreading Covid, why they should not be omitted

I remember when this all started and the Japanese and Japanese Government were in complete denial about getting sick, when in fact it was the Japanese and Japanese Government that were spreading the virus around in Japan and abroad.

The article says the traveler was from the United States .

This is why we say the United States .

Not America.

So stupid

"All i want is a peaceful holiday. Hope the government contain it at least till spring. Last thing we need is a huge outbreak of people getting sick during winter time. Even if the symptoms are mild."

why? If the symptoms are mild, who cares??

Article doesn't say if she WAS American or Japanese returning FROM America so I'm gonna assume she's Japanese because they would have emphasised that it was a gaij who brought it into Japan from the dirty shores of Gaikoku.......and being that she was Japanese AND at an outdoor, public event, I'm gonna further assume that she was a good little worker bee and wearing her mask.......that had ZERO effect on her passing it on to the people she met!!! But hey, the moral highground and tut tutting at people who didn't have a mask was probably very satisfying.

If you are vaccinated....who cares.....need a booster, ok...gimme one. This bad boy doesn't seem to be killing or hospitalising many patients so stop screaming about new case numbers. It's winter, people are gonna get sniffles and coughs.....life goes on.

We are all being brainwashed into believing bad things are coming if we don't acquiesce to the few that control the many. Just put a mask on for the time being and live your life, stop the fear-mongering and take responsibility for yourself. I am sure you will be fine.

in a traveler from the United States

As others have pointed out, the way this article is written implies that the person is American. However it's clear from the way she was quarantining, as well as other reports, that she is in fact Japanese.

'...in a Japanese national returning from the United States' would be a more accurate way of presenting the information.

Girl ‘gets around’ or confusing reporting ? - From the article: the woman “and her friend whom she saw immediately after arrival tested positive after going to a soccer game”. Then, 5th para, “The ‘men’ *she*** met immediately after returning also developed a fever and other symptoms.” … “He attended a soccer game with 10 people, including his family and colleagues … ?**

Is she a U.S. citizen residing in Japan or a Japanese returning from the U.S. ? - May be better to check to check this story from abroad ?

Wait what?

it was all over the local news a few weeks ago, that a Japanese diplomat came with it.... why putting the first case on the gaijin again?

it’s everywhere. It’s boring. It’s over for me.

until you or a family member are in hospital with a tube forced down your throat.

dry drowning, begging for a vaccine you didnt take but which is now too late to take

it’s everywhere. It’s boring. It’s over for me.

ok great then we wont need to see any of your post on here anymore, ranting unfounded conspiracy theories

based on opinion not science

Its not over for Japan, so its either wear your mask, show your passport , or stay home

Arrest. Prosecute. Under that umbrella law of interfering with business.

Selfish idiot.

One more time. The USA akin to a disease vector. 50 states, all with different protocols. All with differing rates of infection.

That folks ignore the standards of quarantine to go 'shopping' for foodstuffs or bizarrely to attend sporting events calls for more rigid enforcement. Which just seems strange, that adults cannot act in a responsible manner, on their own and realize it is for the greater good and that which is held in common.

All in all, not good.

Japan's self-quarantine doesn't really work - you're allowed to leave the house for groceries and whatnot. What's to stop someone from going out on the town after they get a call confirming their whereabouts?

purple_depressed_baconToday  02:09 pm JST

Japan's self-quarantine doesn't really work - you're allowed to leave the house for groceries and whatnot. What's to stop someone from going out on the town after they get a call confirming their whereabouts?

Absolutely nothing.

You can go anywhere you want as long as you do limit contact with other people.

Take walks, ride a bike, nothing wrong with that.

according to other sources infected lady is fully vaccinated.i will not spam here with links,everyone may find it easy after short googling.

this means vaccination is effectiveless and meaningless as cant stop spreading of virus.

these are facts confirmed by even this case,this is not some conspiracy or off topic talk.

stay safe everyone take care.i wish gov to keep borders closed as long as possible to reduce risks here.

better be safe than sorry.

It's always amusing to see random dudes giving moral judgments of people about what is wrong or good.

Amusing is to see them do it while being completely wrong (as in "no such thing as an escape mutant" wrong), on the other hand the text you quote has nothing wrong from any point of view. Not respecting a quarantine that is valid and useful is still wrong, just because many people disobey something that does not mean it magically becomes fine or even postiive. Breaking a quarantine during time of special care is simply wrong.

And once again, go to the police and report the person that apparently is forcing you to read things you don't want, you should be able to do what everybody else does and freely refrain from reading anything they don't want to do.

The ministry urged spectators who attended the packed Sunday soccer game in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, to get tested.

are the tests free?

A good example on how Japanese refuse to comply with the rules of thier own country. She should be fined and have her passport taken away. Actually, all Japanese should be banned from any international travel.

Not to worry, the super rich won't get the virus, hence their preferential entry procedures being brought in. Those of us who slum it on scheduled flights might never be able to see our families again because of these overreactions.

Do not let anyone from countries with high cases come in. Or no one enter till mid January.once a person leaves the country during pandemic, they should not be allowed to come back unless they are a citizen.

That is what some other country is doing. If you leave and you are not a citizen they will not guarantee you a visa to come back.

Do not let anyone from countries with high cases come in. Or no one enter till mid January.once a person leaves the country during pandemic, they should not be allowed to come back unless they are a citizen.

You do realise this individual in the article is Japanese, right?

"...they should not be allowed to come back unless they are a citizen."

OK... and so what shall you decree be allowed with respect to a Japanese citizen whom lives in Texas, USA and returns to be with her boyfriend?