national

Tokyo reports 170 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 626

19 Comments

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Tuesday reported 170 new cases of the coronavirus, up 70 from Monday. Of the total, 86 are in their 20s and 30s.

The tally is the result from 2,599 tests conducted on Aug 29. The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 20,987.

The number of infected people with severe symptoms is 29, down seven from Monday, health officials said.

Nationwide, the total number of cases was 826. After Tokyo, the prefectures with the highest number were Osaka (114), Kanagawa (59), Saitama (46), Fukuoka (38), Ishikawa (27), Aichi (24), Kyoto (22), Hyogo (21), Chiba (18) and Hokkaido (16).

Eight deaths related to the coronavirus were reported.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

@TigersTokyoDome:

Yea, me neither.

Also, I also think there are different conversations going under these articles: one is about the handling of the virus by the government, including transparency, leadership and policies, and the other is about how the corona situation is in Japan. I think these conversations are ofter blurred.

I think it is a simple fact that the first conversation is an easy one: there is no clear leadership, nor transparency nor viral control by the government. For people saying the Japanese government is on top of things and is a model for the rest of the world, is like saying a red pen is blue.

On the other hand, regarding the situation in Japan: we don't truly know how extensive it is, because there is not so much testing compared to many other countries. Simultaneously, it is possible that the pandemic is better here than other countries (especially the US, Italy and Spain). If this is true, then this is because of the Japanese people, or because of luck, or a virus genotype, or a combination of this, at least not due to the governments efforts. However, the second wave is not as severe in many other European countries (such as Belgium, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and many more), where there basically has been no deaths since the second wave in Japan started, while in Japan the numbers are going up. Also total death / positives ratio is not that significantly higher in Japan compared to these countries (ignoring the USA, and Italy and such), especially when looking at these county's different policies in screening, testing and counting positives. To say Japan is doing better than most countries is simply not true. Partly because the situation is not that clear, and aso because the numbers that are out there, especially during this second wave, (such as many EU countries, and other Asian countries) show that this is not the case. This is like saying a purple pen in green, but in reality we don't know the exact color of this pen.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Martini, this is the real question. Its possible there is a lesser strain in Japan. Or many of us have caught an asymptomatic version. Maybe many of us would test positive but we are not in ill health. BUT. We can never answer these questions if this government continue to control and hide the testing.

Many posters accuse me of scaremongering etc. But they miss the point completely. My point is that it is a disgrace that the Japanese government are hiding the real numbers.

If a large number of us in Japan have developed antibodies and have already been positive but been asymptomatic, then this information would have been crucial. Crucial not only to knowledge but for the vaccine programmes too.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Akula, you're talking to yourself. Stay here and see how it goes for you.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

@n1k1: “truly know”, well if you are going to micromanage my wording I will agree with you 100%, because that indeed is impossible to achieve in any country. There is always underestimates, many EU countries say their counts are about 2x or so (depending on the country, you can search it yourself) and are transparent about the whole corona crisis management, policies and choices. Many European counties have weekly meetings with their Health Institutes and all citizens can watch this and are explained the choices and the situation. On the other part of the spectrum, Abe has hardly ever spoken, all meetings are not public, and even for many decision meetings no notes are taken. Also, to come back to your “truly know” point, Japan says the underestimation is very low and the numbers are basically accurate (this was in the news a feels ago, you can search it). So my point is not that Japan is the only country where the true numbers are unknown. I’m talking about the scale and I’m talking about transparency, policies and about leadership. If you disagree we just have to agree to disagree...

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I’m talking about the scale and I’m talking about transparency, policies and about leadership. 

I totally agree.

The obscurity, lack of testing and poor leadership are undeniable.

A PM that keeps quiet for a month, then he lies to us saying he had a regular checkup.

Tests are denied without any explanation.

The meetings of experts are done in total isolation to the citizens.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The thing about all these so called “hidden cases” is that surely sufferers would either be showing up at hospitals and overwhelming them or staying home and suffering massively in private. And yet there is no evidence of either.

Personally, I know of nobody who has had it, and due to work and family I know a lot of people.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Real numbers? Hiding cases? Where? Do you think the doctors, nurses, public health professionals and government workers are all secretly hiding sick people in mysterious secret facilities? The dead are burnt at night in secret? The families and friends are in on it too?

Could it just be that the mass wearing of masks and use of hand sanitiser along with reasonable social distancing is all that is needed to combat the virus?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Active cases have dropped from 16000 to under 10000 in the space of 3 weeks. 7 day average for new cases has almost halved in that time. But still we hear the doom and gloom every day.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

 3 weeks. 7 day average for new cases has almost halved in that time

Have they? Or the PCR tests halved?

... I'm honestly asking

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Lol if they are gonna lie about it they don't have to do less tests.

They will just tell you that the numbers of positives are small

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They are, or rather, it is also mitigated by the same measures for covid-19 plus it has a vaccine so shouldn't be too bad

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

My point is that it is a disgrace that the Japanese government are hiding the real numbers.

I really don't think so. It would be just too complicated, too risky and pointless actually.

On the other hand, regarding the situation in Japan: we don't truly know how extensive it is, because there is not so much testing compared to many other countries.

Is there any country in the world that you truly know what their situations is ? and just because they test more ? seriously ? isn't the health care important ? aren't hospitals and gear important ? isn't economy a variable ? What do you mean truly know ?

To say Japan is doing better than most countries is simply not true

This is absolutely true. Masks, Social Distancing, Health Care. The model is fine. Everything else and may I stress especially maniacal PCR testing is nonsense.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Lol after all this time we're back to square one.

Ok so why would Japan hide the real numbers?

What is the motive, what would they gain?

And why would they risk international embarrassment for that?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

BUT. We can never answer these questions if this government continue to control and hide the testing.

I will try to answer your questions.

Its possible there is a lesser strain in Japan.

No !

Or many of us have caught an asymptomatic version.

No !

Maybe many of us would test positive but we are not in ill health.

Yes !

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

@TigersTokyoDome, you are scaremongering. It is possible there is a lesser strain? Nonsense. Because you have zero proof that the government is hiding the numbers. You are probably reading too much those China and US media. There is no way you can hide numbers for too long even if they wanted. Because if they really did, people that die from it can sue the government. Japan isn't just any other country. Everyone from media to experts is keeping tabs on the government and 1 little slip up and the whole country will go after them.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

New cases falling around the country. More people recovering. Active cases falling every day.

Japan has done a great job in getting on top of the virus.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Don't even take these numbers seriously.

yeah right, just admit that has japan control of the situation. Japan has the lowest death rate per capita and the lowest death rate overall.

-21 ( +2 / -23 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites