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Japan reports 195,161 coronavirus cases

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Japan on Friday reported 195,161 new coronavirus cases, setting a record high for the third straight day.

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 34,995 new coronavirus cases, up 3,117 from Thursday.

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is 15, down three from Thursday, health officials said. The nationwide figure is 191, up two from Thursday.

Other prefectures reporting high numbers were Osaka (19,952), Fukuoka (12,155), Aichi (12,068), Saitama (11,598), Kanagawa (10,747), Chiba (9,463), Hyogo (9,256), Shizuoka (5,890), Okinawa (4,654), Hokkaido (4,464), Kyoto (3,951), Kagoshima (2,816), Ibaraki (2,753), Hiroshima (2,548), Miyagi (2,508), Tochigi (2,184), Mie (2,132), Nara (2,067), Gifu (1,997), Gunma (1,975), Niigata (1,968), Miyazaki (1,935), Okayama (1,866), Nagasaki (1,706), Aomori (1,620), Oita (1,602), Ishikawa (1,549), Nagano (1,545), Saga (1,469), Yamaguchi (1,337), Ehime (1,194), Wakayama (1,185), Kagawa (1,147), Fukushima (1,106), Toyama (1,098), Iwate (976), Shimane (944), Fukui (841), Akita (700), Yamagata (610) and Tokushima (595).

The number of coronavirus-related deaths reported nationwide was 52.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

62 Comments

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797,000 actual hospitalizations countrywide…. That’s before todays newly admitted patients are added and the few recovered patients are discharged…. Okinawa’s entire healthcare system is near its breaking point of total collapse…. Not my words …. Just quoting the head of their medical assn and governor…. I hate to be repetitive, but patients with severe symptoms (intubated) are not the only patients hospitalized…. In fact , they are a tiny fraction of the actual number. For all of you who keep going on and on about how mild this variant is …. Why are the ICUs filling up? And NO! It’s not okay if they are mostly the elderly or those with preexisting issues …. If you’re not vaccinated…. Get started tomorrow…. If you’re eligible for a booster…. Get it done …. Mask up when necessary! Avoid crowds …. Bars …. Restaurants… spend time responsibly at home with your family!!! Have your beer at home! Follow the 3 C’s…. And demand those around you do the same …. Sadly …. I correctly predicted over 500k new cases from Wed-Fri…. Shattering records countrywide…. These numbers are not sustainable…. If they don’t start to fall and fall fast …. Get ready for the 1st real SOE…. The Governors assn is holding an emergency meeting this weekend…. The jgov should also consider rescinding their relaxed border controls….

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

The best way to eliminate risks from Covid infection is simply to not get infected with Covid.

Impractical, unsustainable "solutions" that have higher costs than benefit are not solutions at all, for most of the population there is no realistic way to be quaranteed free of infection.

Vaccination on the other hand is a practical and sustainable way to eliminate the risks from infection without having to sacrifice your way of living, human rights or even your life in order to prevent infection.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Fukuoka (12,155) HUGE NUMBER

Seems the actual nationwide numbers are 3x or more than what are tested and reported to the government.

RedstormToday  05:39 pm JST

So I assume you receive no additional payments for heating/cooling/internet/lighting?

I work remotely from home and do not receive any extra compensation. Not a huge increase in electricity and balanced off by saving by eating at home.

You have two options, one is to remain unvaccinated and get 100% of all the risks: infection, symptoms, complications, transmission to other people and death. The other option is getting vaccinated and reduce all those risks significantly at the cost of a tiny risk of serious adverse effects.

Sure, there are two options. And there are also two or more other options. And getting vaccinated and reducing the other risks still means there are risks.

The best way to minimize risks as much as possible is not to come in contact with others, which is why China has been so successful with its zero covid policy according to statistical data and global health experts.

The best way to eliminate risks from Covid infection is simply to not get infected with Covid.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

You have two options, one is to remain unvaccinated and get 100% of all the risks: infection, symptoms, complications, transmission to other people and death. The other option is getting vaccinated and reduce all those risks significantly at the cost of a tiny risk of serious adverse effects.

Wrong. As an unvaccinated and prior infected individual, I can comfortably say, no, I am not at risk of death, or even long Covid. I know this because since my first infection I have gotten infected again. And once again, all the hype and paranoia I heard about the disease ended up being false, at least for me.

And that is also true for 99% of other individuals, unvaccinated included.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Not one n95 level mask in sight!

Another brick in the wall…..

1 ( +6 / -5 )

The wife and I went down near Shinjuku Kuyakucho to get the 4th shot.

So you and your wife are over 60 years old, are both medical worker or you both have some health issues?

Otherwise you can not get a 4th shot in japan.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

So many masks, so many cases.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Meanwhile in Okinawa, per the Okinawa Times:

"Okinawa, 4654 infected 1192 increased from the previous week 3 died in corona. Bed usage rate is 74% [July 22 noon]" The bed usage rate is 74.0% (patients 517 / beds 699), and that for severely ill patients is 29.0% (hospitals 18 / beds 62).

Our hospital system is getting close to collapsing. Stay safe everyone. Wear your masks, get vaccinated, wash/sanitize your hands, and avoid crowds.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Wow, so many comments here again… I don’t know the stats or proof of whether mask works or not… But I have been using masks, just regular disposable masks, out of common sense, i.e. when I should which means I don’t wear it all the time. Besides I would keep my personal hygiene and infection prevention practices (keep hands clean and beware of surfaces) like I did before COVID… I am still not vaxxed and have been working in the office a few times per week. Commuting is by public transportations ie JR and or Tokyo Metro. Life goes on. Take care everyone.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

For god sake just get on with it...life...before the next virus comes along...or Japan close borders and keep them shut...we are not welcome...

A case of polio was just discovered in the U.S. after polio had been eradicated for many years. From what I read, the polio patient received an oral vaccine in another country. There were comments under the article from people who wanted to close U.S. borders for fear of bringing more polio cases into the country. Americans complain about Japan closing it's border to tourists to prevent the spread of COVID and now they complain about not closing it's own borders to tourists to prevent the spread of Polio. Oh, the irony.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

If, IF everyone had followed public health advice and gotten vaccinated ASAP when the vaccines became available, the virus might not have mutated - or might not have mutated to the point that it could slip around protections.

The mass vaccination is exactly what encouraged the appearance of immune escape mutants, as predicted by real experts like Geert Vanden Bossche, who along with many other experts recommended only giving the vaccines to the more vulnerable.

But we will never know because the “FREEDUMB!” crowd decided that the disinformation they read on fb was way, WAY more credible than the finest minds in public health.

The "finest minds in public health" were all silenced by the MSM, FB, YT...

I am very happy to live in a country where we do have some level of freedom to think for ourselves...

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

The wife and I went down near Shinjuku Kuyakucho to get the 4th shot. I’m glad we were able to get it so easily. I’m hoping the next time will be the updated Omicran type. Plenty of people out and about in Kabukicho. And, Shin-Okubo as well. Mostly all wearing masks. Interesting that Tokyo is doing more tests this time. It’s hard to correlate the data. It’s almost as if they intentionally obfuscate…

1 ( +4 / -3 )

lower your risk of getting infected in the first place, all demonstrated scientifically.

And all demonstrated scientifically proved wrong!

Proved wrong by the reality.

*Japan on Friday reported 195,161 new coronavirus cases, *another record high.

In case you do not understand the meaning of the first sentence in that article, you can ask me...I will explain it to you.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

“Hey remember two years ago”

I remember reading articles 2 years ago about how Japan had defeated coronavirus. Lol.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Hey remember two years ago when people said the vaccine would make you immune and would stop the spread. They were convinced. It was all over the news and people repeated the mantra. I remember it clearly.

Now those SAME people say of course it won’t make you immune… of course it won’t stop the spread of the virus. It will just make you less sick. Like they knew it all along… it’s funny watching them change their tune. I guess it happened so gradually it’s like they don’t even remember.

If, IF everyone had followed public health advice and gotten vaccinated ASAP when the vaccines became available, the virus might not have mutated - or might not have mutated to the point that it could slip around protections.

But we will never know because the “FREEDUMB!” crowd decided that the disinformation they read on fb was way, WAY more credible than the finest minds in public health.

And so here we are. A vaccine that is still HIGHLY Effective at preventing severe illness and death, is not as effective in preventing infection as we had hoped.

I count myself among the disappointed. But that doesn’t mean that because the protection is less than hoped, we should just throw up our hands and give up. Or believe the conspiracy crowd.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

For god sake just get on with it...life...before the next virus comes along...or Japan close borders and keep them shut...we are not welcome...

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

If you are lucky, the vaccine just lowers your risk of not getting hospitaized.

And lower your risk of developing incapacitating symptoms, also lower the risk you represent for others and lower your risk of getting infected in the first place, all demonstrated scientifically.

The problem is always people that think that if something is not effective 100% of the time then it means it is 0% effective, which makes no sense.

You have two options, one is to remain unvaccinated and get 100% of all the risks: infection, symptoms, complications, transmission to other people and death. The other option is getting vaccinated and reduce all those risks significantly at the cost of a tiny risk of serious adverse effects.

The issue is that telling people they can only choose to get the full risks or else they have to starve to death because they no longer can go to work is not valid. They can do the rational thing and take proper precautions while living their lives, including vaccination.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Yeah well, that's the reality - Japan leads the world in mask wearing and it doesn't seem to make a slightest difference

Nonsense. The reality is masks do work, and work well. But many Japanese have become lax when eating out and drinking. But do what you wish. Go out without a mask and risk it.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

ZorotoToday  06:24 pm JST

I have a bit of good news on that front. My company has told us “if you are not required in the office stay home and work.” I’m in the office 5x a month tops

"if you are not required" is the operative word here. Who decides?

A fair question.

We the staff do. If we can deliver from home we are free to do so.

In fact, we could be asked to prove we need to go in (I have yet to be asked to do so.)

As long as I deliver on time at the prescribed quality

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Hey remember two years ago when people said the vaccine would make you immune and would stop the spread. They were convinced. It was all over the news and people repeated the mantra. I remember it clearly.

Now those SAME people say of course it won’t make you immune… of course it won’t stop the spread of the virus. It will just make you less sick. Like they knew it all along… it’s funny watching them change their tune. I guess it happened so gradually it’s like they don’t even remember.

I know plenty of people who are both vaccinated and unvaccinated Who got infected with omicron. EXACT same symptoms and NEITHER were sicker than the other. Pretty much everyone head cold/flu like symptoms for a few days and it was done.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

*not receiving the virus**".*

Man, what are you talking about???

The vaccine also do not protect you of receiving the virus!

Wake up man or woman!

If you are lucky, the vaccine just lowers your risk of not getting hospitaized.

And that's all.

If you want to be sure not to receive the virus, then you should keep distance and finish contact with every single person on this planet.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Everyone will contract covid. It’s only a question of “when”. Can you believe there are still establishments that measure your temperature??

Completely agree. It's more contagious than measles now; measles which was so contagious that 95-98% of people born before vaccines are considered to have naturally caught it at some point.

Those thermal sensors were always of dubious utility really...

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/non-contact-temperature-assessment-devices-during-covid-19-pandemic

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

If you've got your mask on, shouldn't it protect you from the non masked? Isn't that the point?

One advantage to not wearing a mask is similar to the gaijin effect on the train. Nobody wants to sit next to you. Lol

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Its not about if masks work or not. They do. However going to restaurants and bars, taking off the masks to eat, drink, and talk, sitting to close on the trains, not wearing masks when in doors to shop, and other means of unmasking is what is causing the increase. We all thought this pandemic is an endemic by now, but heeeeeerrrrrreeeessssssss Covid! Back from the future!

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Kingaikokujin

will get my #4 jab next week.

Monty,

it's not for "not spreading the virus" but more for "not receiving the virus".

Why is this so difficult to understand? And if you don't receive the virus, of course you can't spread it. Piece of cake!

2 ( +10 / -8 )

CommodoreFlagToday  05:57 pm JST

Masks work. To different degrees and have to be correctly worn. Although you could argue that someone wearing a mask is going to be more cautious and less likely to contract covid anyway.*

Everyone will contract covid. It’s only a question of “when”. Can you believe there are still establishments that measure your temperature?? In 2022? ?! What kind of idiot ever thought that was a good idea.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

If the j-gov approach to Covid has been the best, then why is Japan experiencing a “seventh wave”, whilst my relatives in California are just now going through only their fourth?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Masks work. To different degrees and have to be correctly worn*. Although you could argue that someone wearing a mask is going to be more cautious and less likely to contract covid anyway.

But people aren't wearing them all the time. Going out for a coffee or a meal - nobody is wearing a mask then.

I don't think people can be expected to wear them all the time - especially on hot sticky days like today.

*https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7106e1.htm

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I got my 3 Moderna vaccin, wear mask, sanitize my hands, still, I got infected at the office. I’m still sick… people please be careful this virus is highly contagious.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Sven AsaiToday  05:40 pm JST

I wonder what’s so difficult to understand. Masks help against spreading but keep own virus loads in oneself. Vaccines are helpful to not become severely ill and decrease virus loads significantly. Infection numbers are rising because the new BA.5 variant is highly infectious and at the same time stubbornly almost all possible measures have been canceled or aren’t considered.

It isn’t that difficult to understand if one is moderately cognitive, even remotely scientifically literate and willing to listen to experts.

That rules out a fair few of this lot.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

I wonder what’s so difficult to understand. Masks help against spreading but keep own virus loads in oneself. Vaccines are helpful to not become severely ill and decrease virus loads significantly. Infection numbers are rising because the new BA.5 variant is highly infectious and at the same time stubbornly almost all possible measures have been canceled or aren’t considered. And the hospitals are full although still rather low numbers of very severe cases, because many people with the symptoms or PCR results just don’t want to suffocate and die alone at home but insist on checking and possible treatment. They’ve paid health insurance and of course have a right to get something in return instead of being sent home suffering. Any more difficulties in understanding? Good.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

At least I haven’t been hearing so much about the genetic resilience of the Japanese to the virus

2 ( +9 / -7 )

And news flash, masks reduce but do not eliminate the possibility of transmission (just like safe and effective vaccines, go figure).

I know this because public health experts, you know actual Drs and PhDs say so. I’ll take them over that fb post your cousin shared every day of the week.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

the whiners here who demand for lockdown or SOE

And the most funny thing is that these whiners are 3x vaccinated.

So it is definitiv clear that these people don't trust the 3 vaccines they took.

I think vaccine numbers 4,5 and 6 in some cases should be implemented.

Did you sleep during the last year?

Or how come that you still do not understand that the vaccine do not prevent the spread of the virus?

2 ( +12 / -10 )

Redstorm,

Of course I cannot go into detail, but they pay us our normal monthly salary.

Commutation is based on the number of days we actually commute.

I’m sorry but I really cannot say more than that. Hope it answers your question.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

What exactly are you thinking? That masks worked before but are not working now or don't work at all at any time?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

If Japan is aiming for ZERO corona just like China, I would understand the whiners here who demand for lockdown or SOE. However, the civilized world has already moved on and is living WITH Corona, which is the practical choice. No one really talks about Covid blah blah in most of Europe and Southeast Asia.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

Another State of Emergency can't be implemented, the government knows it as it would devaluate YEN even further and lead Japan to bankrupcy.

I think vaccine numbers 4,5 and 6 in some cases should be implemented.

Telework isn't the solution as someone still has to go to work at factories, restaurants, Caffe, someone needs to operate the metro etc. otherwise all those occupations will need to be reimbursed as well as companies for their losses.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

I do wish there was better clarification of the terms they choose to use, for example seperating hospital consultations from actual admissions instead of throwing them both under 'hospitalizations', and stating explicit terms for what's considered a 'severe' case (Needing to stay in ICU hooked up to a vitals monitor? on an oxygen tube to keep SPO2 in the green? on life support in an induced coma? all of the above?).

I know some want to focus on deaths but the govt isn't as concerned with 90-somethings passing away from covid when it would've just been influenza next year anyway, they're concerned about so many people being in intensive care that some 43 year old guy will die after a car crash, stroke or heart attack because the hospital was overwhelmed and he got sub-par care.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Zia & Gintonic,

I have a bit of good news on that front. My company has told us “if you are not required in the office stay home and work.” I’m in the office 5x a month tops

So there is some small sliver of sanity in corporate Japan.

2 ( +14 / -12 )

If there are only 15 severe cases in Tokyo, then why , as we constantly hear on the news, are hospitals full and why is it taking ambulances hours to find a bed for patients? Oh thats right - severe here means on an ecmo machine - if you are not connected to one of those, you are not classed as severe even if you require oxygen to breathe. If you are unable to eat or drink because you can't swallow, thats not severe either. What a complete farce.

21 ( +26 / -5 )

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