Tokyo governor urges residents to stay home over 4-day weekend as virus surges

The Weather is certainly helping with this request... no one really wants to go wandering around aimlessly whilst is p1551ng down so heavily.

How about stay home Monday to Friday next week?

As someone who lives in the countryside, I would like to say to Tokyo people stay home is best, if you can't, at least stay in Tokyo, and please, don't come here.

366 today. Let's stay home and not let down your guard.

Thanks for urging us to stay home Koike! Now I urge you to do something about it so I don't have to loose the next several long weekends, or worse.

Yeah yeah, cases are rising... but so few people are dying.

As some have said, if you're healthy you can go out and enjoy yourself; this virus is nowhere as bad as was initially stated. Take precautions if you like, but don't panic.

It's so easy to tell people to stay home, but why doesn't Koike set an example and hold all her meetings and press conferences from home, via Zoom...

@M Machida: don't overdo the sunscreen, make sure you have some "unprotected" sun exposure to increase your vitamin D levels.

It’s hard to handle both of the economy and the virus at the same time.

Once the number of cases reached 300, which is record breaking today , this is a time to avoid taking any activities for a while

Then if the situation became stable and decreasing, it will be a time again to go travel and shopping

It's like wave

GO TO travel was ,,, bad timing for the government..

Tokyo governor urges residents to stay home over 4-day weekend as virus surges

Okay Governor, It takes two to tango why don't you keep your side of the bargain by ramping up test to levels reminiscent of a city of tokyo population like NewYork while the citizens keep their part reducing unnecessary outings, wearing mask, social distancing. Just saying stay home is not the solution, staying home and not knowing that you are infected will lead to a spread at home. That is why testing is important.

Just a few weeks ago we were told to "stay home", and now we are being told "go to travel"...this is so irresponsible, especially on a day when Tokyo recorded over 300 new infected.

@Reckless

Unfortunately my company hates Telework.

It is a complete japanese Management, so no choice than to use the full packed morning trains.

I have to go by Chuo Line and Yamanote.

Chuo Line is crazy packed in the morning.

Today is a holiday, but I have to go to work.

But I was lucky this morning, trains are OK. Not full.

yoshisan88Today  12:44 pm JST

So are you suggesting that all the mask wearing, social distancing and other precaution measures are just a waste of time, money and efforts? My immune system can fight off any virus. Why are so many people are either close to fearmongging or treating the whole thing like a joke?

That's great. I hope you are ready to quarantine for weeks on your own expense if you get infected or are you going to pass it on to somebody else?

Also fyi, the reason why even some young people die from this virus is because the immune system overreacts in a so-called cytokine storm. We know that this virus is very aggressive and has the capacity to infect all internal organs and limbs at the same time, which in some individuals creates this response.

thats a really strange message, and bad for the economy and consumer spending.

stay at home. unless its a work day. then go to work.

Looking at the highway info at the JARTIC website, it is a sea of red. Traffic backed up 20~30 kms on all outbound lanes from Tokyo, in every direction. Sure Koike's "urging" has worked (?).

I guess we'll see in two or three weeks where this will have led us. Until then: have a good weekend and enjoy the show.

Whatsnext

So are you suggesting that all the mask wearing, social distancing and other precaution measures are just a waste of time, money and efforts? My immune system can fight off any virus. Why are so many people are either close to fearmongging or treating the whole thing like a joke?

to actually get to Hokkaido Kari will need to get on a plane 

Japan actually has things called cars, buses, local trains, bullet trains and ferries. And for the more adventurous, bicycles.

Another "headless chook running around" type urging. Urge? The number of cases in Japan is meaningless when tests are low and more than 70% are untraceable. It's already spreading uncontrollably within the community and the j-gov has done jack all to properly contain it.

Egotistic Abe and his oyajis are much to be blamed for this, having believed in the superiority of the culture to fend against an invisible disease instead of using science and logic, and having too much self pride to accept Korean made test kits to increase the number of daily tests. The j-gov needs to be replaced by people who care about the country and the people, not people who care about saving their face and lining their pockets with gold.

@Whats next

Very good Post!

People praising this should actually look at the statistics and use their cognitive ability instead of being guilded by the fear stream media. A great site to see the statistics is:

https://toyokeizai.net/sp/visual/tko/covid19/en.html

Though it doesn't give co-mobidities it has enough information to prove if you have a healthy immune system and under 80 years old you should be fine. Your immune system is your first defense against this virus. Staying home and wearing a mask will cause you to have stress. This will only reduce your immune system.

Visits to the hospital have increased due to stress and reduced immune systems from the constant fear mongering, people losing their jobs and businesses. I know this because I am one of those people. I burnt the candle at both ends and was so stressed out I got very sick and still recovering. I did not get covid-19 but I had very terrible symptoms and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. It's been about a month and I'm still recovering.

The world is full of diseases and your main defense is a healthy immune system. Excersize, good food, going out and enjoying life is absolutely necessary to keep a balanced immune system. The media is lying to you. Be healthy. Use your mind. Do your own research.

Please close everything for some days... Trains are crowded,everyday cases are increasing..

just for a week..

More 'urging' again. That should work.

Eye rolling.

@Jim

As you can see all over the world now, governments finally understands that wearing a mask is prevention No 1!

Even Mr. Trump changes his mind according wearing a mask. And that counts a lot!

I know that foreigners don't like to wear a mask, therefore they always argue against wearing a mask.

But Jim, if you think that wearing mask, washing hands, use sanitizer, keep social distance where it is possible, is not enough, please tell us what you are doing for prevention?

Then they end up in the same crowded offices with people who used the super crowded trains to get there!

Please tell me how should people go to work?

Or do you recommend that we all should quit our jobs?

@Marcelito... you made the correct decision of canceling your trip! Your personal safety and safety of your family is paramount. You can always travel there next year or in the near future. Don’t listen to the reckless brainless people here who are encouraging you to take the trip. These are the people who are probably hiding in their own houses protecting themselves or already infected and going out recklessly infecting others in the general public! Shame on these people who don’t take heed of the seriousness of this outbreak and can’t sacrifice a bit!

You can urge people as much as you can Koike but people wont listen or care but we are lucky it is raining today because most will stay home because of the rain.

Some people are lucky to walk or to use bicycle to go to work, but these people are very very few.

Then they end up in the same crowded offices with people who used the super crowded trains to get there!

If you follow that rules, you don't need to stay at home

Not True at all! Some infected person might cough or sneeze next to you in the train, restaurant, supermarket or just walking infront of you! People are just brainless to think that wearing a mask and washing their hands is enough to combat this outbreak!

There is only one logical reason for the go to travel campaign at this time

The government is going for herd immunity but they don't want to make it too public ( as it has a cost of lives) so they had to exclude Tokyo.

@Jax,

There is absolutely no way I will listen to her urges. They don't allow me to go back home for Christmas, I am gonna "go to travel" the hell out of Japan domestic wise.

While taking precious measures like washing my hands, of course.

It's this type of attitude which will likely result in new lock down laws being instated. I don't want a lockdown, but I also think people just go over the top with "challenging the system".

Strangely, no one is talking about packed, standing room only, commuter trains

Nobody is talking about that, because these trains are the heart of Tokyo. Without these morning trains, nobody can go to work and you must close all offices and businesses in Tokyo.

But there is no solution and no other way than to use these trains in the morning for all of us who has to go to work in Tokyo in the morning.

Some people are lucky to walk or to use bicycle to go to work, but these people are very very few.

Quote: "Koike said the city was seeing infections at restaurants and theaters, not just nightlife areas as in previous weeks. Clusters have also been reported at workplaces and schools."

Strangely, no one is talking about packed, standing room only, commuter trains.

How come they always recommend staying at home for holidays like this long weekend and golden week, but it’s fine to get on the crowded trains for work.

most people haven’t had a proper vacation all year and need to unwind. This recommendation is not good for the public mental health.

@Marcelito

I would take the Hayabusa, not an airplane.

Requesting business shut down is not either remotely feasible or an economic option.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike must concentrate all resources on a comprehensive policy of track trace and isolate. And commit fully to working with the Government.

Both, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Prime Minster Shinzo Abe are not just on difference planets, they are in different solar systems, worlds apart.   

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike….

"The infections are spreading not only among young people but also among middle-aged and older people, I'd like to ask (Tokyo residents) to refrain from going out as much as possible, especially el With everyone’s cooperation, we want to reopen activities. That policy has not changed. At the same time, we will make thorough efforts to prevent the spread of infections and serious cases,”

Prime Minster Shinzō Abe, Wednesday….

“With everyone’s cooperation, we want to reopen activities. That policy has not changed. At the same time, we will make thorough efforts to prevent the spread of infections and serious cases,”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Wednesday

“The Go To campaign is part of the government’s effort at a staged reopening of the economy. When people check in to a facility, they’ll get their temperature checked and they’ll be expected to practice social distancing at mealtimes”

Not only could that ¥1.35 trillion be devoted to the necessary program for track and trace, also a possible to route to securing a vaccine, plus finance to tackle the numerous number of social programs.

Its all a hapless hopeless game of political gamesmanship.

Lockdown Tokyo. Then the rest of japan will be fine.

I am surprised and happy to see how many posters here changed their mind from screaming for lockdowns and shut down everything to go out and live your live!

It is nice to see those changes!

"GO TO" in a book, film and your imagination - it's the safest step you can take to beat the virus, following the sage advice of the French polymath, Blaise Pascal, who noted 400 years ago:  "All of humanity's problems stem from Man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone".

Keep clean and get out there and live! We’re approaching a crossroads where people will be forced to admit that “shelter in place” stuff is a disaster. People are not dying, neither young nor elderly. Actually, even “cases” is misleading. When you hear of “cases”, you think “sick”. But most of them probably don’t even get very sick ( or nothing ). They simply tested positive. They are “positives”.

Im going Mountain Hiking. There is no way I can stay at home more than I do. Since February I have been mostly at home in Tokyo. Time to see the world again. Wash face. Wash hands. Wear a mask not from Abe san. Stay away from people along the way. No trains. No planes. Just my own care and backpack is all I need. I don't need anything else. Except for my sunscreen.

@Karl Haruka

In my opinion it is not necessary to cancel your Obon trip to Hokkaido.

Like I always say, keep your personal prevention for you and your family and you will be fine.

As long as you follow the basic rules, wear mask, use sanitizers, wash hands and keep social distance as much as possible, you will be fine.

I mean you are not walking around Tokyo or Hokkaido and licking door knocks or whatever, right?

Also the trains are not packed, because not so many people are going to work during Obon.

When I am out in Tokyo, I keep distance on the escalators, at traffic lights I keep distance, I don't sit in the trains even if there is a seat I always stand away form other passengers as much as possible, (Except in the packed morning trains for going to work), in every shop I use the hand sanitizers and OF COURSE I wear a mask EVERYWHERE!

If you follow that rules, you don't need to stay at home.

Go To home.

@Yoshisan88

Absolutely correct!

I 100% agree!

Do your personal prevention and everything is fine.

People are easy getting manipulated and get into panic by the media.

So after wasting golden week with the pointless s.o.e, Koike now wants Tokyoites to give up this holiday too.

This is posturing for the elderly who are most likely to vote when she tries to become P.M ,

and anyway everyday is a holiday for this voting block, so what do they care.

Tokyo residents are advised to stay home, but everyone else in Japan can "Go To Travel"

Also yesterday, one-day records for new virus cases were made in:

-Fukouka

-Osaka

-Aichi

-Kanagawa

-Chiba

-Saitama

With three children is impossible to stay at home, but we are careful to avoid crowded places, no public transportation, mask and washing hands frequently. Unfortunately, the weather is crap during the long weekend

I d not think situation is that bad in Tokyo. Wear PPE and avoid high risk activities then it is relatively safe to go out. Be alert but do not panic.

You got it totally wrong, you can go...just cant come back!

Which basically means I can't go in the end.

Complete Nonsense!

Do your personal best prevention! Wear a mask, wash your hands often, use sanitizers and keep social distance where it is possible.

And then you are fine!

Asking people to stay home, but on the other side they want to open the borders to let anybody in. Complete nonsense!

They don't allow me to go back home for Christmas, I am gonna "go to travel" the hell out of Japan domestic wise.

You got it totally wrong, you can go...just cant come back!

Little late....but then again, just want to cover you butt right? You won the election, so now you can go back to "normal"....(LDP style!)

There is absolutely no way I will listen to her urges. They don't allow me to go back home for Christmas, I am gonna "go to travel" the hell out of Japan domestic wise.

While taking precious measures like washing my hands, of course.

Thank you Divinda for the most transparent news this morning

I’ll be at the Onsen this morning having a bath...

Yesterday, Japan recorded its highest one-day total ever of 795 cases, with one-day record highs in several places that are not Tokyo.

Yesterday, Japan began its "Go To Travel" campaign promoting and paying people to move around the country.

Why no headline or even mention about these conflicting realities??

Moderator: We had the story yesterday.

My wife and I have already cancelled our annual trip to her parents' house in Hokkaido, for Obon next month. It's unfortunate, as it's something that we look forward to ever year (especially to escape the Tokyo heat). But it's the right thing to do.

There will be plenty more Obon holidays to look towards in future years to come (and it's better to observe Obon, alive and with our alive family members)

Good idea.

Should have been stated, oh, I don’t know, two weeks ago? Maybe three? People, other than government officials, need to make plans. Deciding on the Wednesday before a four-day weekend to travel or cancel travel plans is not in most people’s long-planned vacations.

Thank you for your leadership Ms Koike!