Commuters leave a train station in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AP/Koji Sasahara
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Tokyo reports 401 new coronavirus cases

42 Comments

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday reported 401 new cases of the coronavirus, up 215 from Tuesday. The number is the result of 1,456 tests conducted on Nov 22.

The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 38,598.

By age group, the highest number of cases were people in their 20s (101), followed by 73 in their 30s.

The number of infected people in Tokyo with severe symptoms is 54, up three from Tuesday, health officials said.

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42 Comments
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Just 401? Why is this even news?

-19 ( +9 / -28 )

401 positive cases from the few expected - 1400’s - tests done on a Public Holiday?!

That’s freakin’ huge!

It’s clearly everywhere by now! Out of control as everywhere else in the world.

19 ( +25 / -6 )

don't you mean, just 1456 tests..

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Is anyone shocked/surprised?

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Is anyone shocked/surprised?

Me not!

I continue with my best personal prevention, and that's it!

-9 ( +9 / -18 )

Are the false positives ever subtracted from the tallies?

Asking for a friend.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

me too Monty. As predicted - Bars/Restaurants requested to close from Friday at 10PM - and being offered UP to 20,000 Yen a day in compensation. This equals zero compliance (and fair enough if you are trying to make a living) outside of the corporate owned eateries.

My local Italian will do the same as last time, just pull the blinds down at 10pm.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

27.5% of those that got tested ended up testing positive. As you read this, if you are in a very public, crowded place in Tokyo, the odds that someone within spitting distance has this virus is 1 in 4. How safe do you feel? I truly hope you are well rested, well nourished and have a robust immune system. Ganbatte!

12 ( +17 / -5 )

As I posted yesterday - stepping into a public place now that is remotely busy now puts you at very real risk of Infection. Its Rife. But..the Governemt Policy is clear - no Lockdown (thank god), no mass testing (debatable if any point now anyway) I have to get the train home shortly - There WILL be people in my carriage carrying the virus. I can't stay home as I can't work from home. So - I have to get on with life and just try to protect myself. Stay safe everybody.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

27.5% of those that got tested ended up testing positive. As you read this, if you are in a very public, crowded place in Tokyo, the odds that someone within spitting distance has this virus is 1 in 4.

Only those with symptoms are tested so your theory is incorrect.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

401 positives in Tokyo. This is a low number. I am relieved. the numbers mid week are normally very high. it is with a warm smile and happiness i am glad the situation here is not as bad as overseas.

-18 ( +5 / -23 )

@NipponGlory

401 positives in Tokyo. This is a low number. I am relieved. the numbers mid week are normally very high. it is with a warm smile and happiness i am glad the situation here is not as bad as overseas.

Remember what you wrote just yesterday about the 186 cases ?

Low. As i fully and clearly explained. This is a decreasing trend. The combined total efforts of everyone has helped to reduce this horrible virus in japan. It has already peaked.

Can you fully and clearly explain to us again where's the decreasing trend ?

16 ( +18 / -2 )

it is with a warm smile and happiness i am glad the situation here is not as bad as overseas

NipponGlory with his usual waffle. What do you mean by "overseas"? Japan is one of the worst performers in the Asia-Pacific region.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Only those with symptoms are tested

Close contacts are also tested, though the rules for being defined as a close contact seem to be very stringent.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

27.5% of those that got tested ended up testing positive. As you read this, if you are in a very public, crowded place in Tokyo, the odds that someone within spitting distance has this virus is 1 in 4

For the idea of one in four Tokyoites being infected, you’d have to explain why the hospitals are not absolutely overwhelmed. One in four Tokyoites is in the millions.

Of course they are playing silly buggers with the numbers, but let’s not let our imaginations get the better of us.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

And yet if you look at the recovery rate and death rate graphs here:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/japan/

you'll see them diverging. That is, the recovery rate is rising, and the death rate is falling.

Plus, the vast majority who actually show any symptoms at all are experiencing mild to moderate ones. That leaves most people who have the virus in their system at all are asymptomatic. This is not to detract from the people who have serious symptoms or pass away - I can't find info on comorbidities, but the link below indicates almost everyone who has died has been aged 70+, and most of them 80+ - around the average life expectancy.

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

Just calm down, there is no need to panic and restricting people's movements or introducing early shutdowns.

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

So we’re supposedly on ‘maximum alert’, and positive cases have been surging over the last 7-10 days and they’ve tested a grand total of... 1,456 people in Tokyo. Seriously? It’s absolutely pathetic.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

most of them 80+ - around the average life expectancy

So it doesn't matter if they die? Even though many of them might otherwise have had a few good years still in front of them?

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Thanks for sharing that @kyronstavic, lots of people here need all the assurances they can get.

Problem is very few will understand that and the implications.

But if you say the infected is 1 in 4 probably most people here will readily believe

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

garthToday  05:53 pm JST

most of them 80+ - around the average life expectancy

So it doesn't matter if they die? Even though many of them might otherwise have had a few good years still in front of them?

You know very well that's not what I'm getting at. It's highly likely that if they hadn't fallen victim to this virus, they would be soon passing from something else, but there isn't much reliable data on co-morbidities to confirm this for sure. If your average 80-something were that vulnerable, there would be a lot more of them in hospital than there are now, given how rapidly this virus spreads.

My own parents are in their late 70s/early 80s and aren't that concerned about it, nor are my in-laws. And in any case, they don't want to see a country economically crippled and their children and grandchildren suffer to save a relatively tiny number of older people who are close to the end. I'd be the same.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

if they will test 5000 then we will have at least 800...yesterday's number given to us was probably not even 1000tests. Magic.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

ZorotoToday  06:13 pm JST

they don't want to see a country economically crippled 

You mean "you", not "they." While I don't know your parents, I seriously doubt they want to die. You should consider not speaking for them on this very serious matter.

No, they have another grown-up child and grandchildren and want them to live well and prosper in a free world, as any normal parents would. And as I said, they're not even that worried about dying from this virus because the likelihood of that happening is very low. But I'm sure they appreciate your concern.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Keep relax.

The positive rate will be back to the real number 5-6% on Friday, when the number of tests and results will be ideally compared.

As I already mentioned a few times, these spikes to 20-30 % once a week are scientifically not realistic,

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

garth

"Only those with symptoms are tested"

Close contacts are also tested, though the rules for being defined as a close contact seem to be very stringent.

Yup: If they discover that the possible 'close contact' was in fact wearing a mask, it's not considered a close contact anymore and thus, not tested. Horrible, but true.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

It is impossible to stop. Just read Yahoo Japan’s posts. Everywhere will continue to be packed with no social distancing, people simply dont believe covid affects Japanese.

The government’s propaganda is backfiring. The majority of posters say there’s no risk going to izakaya’s etc. and that the disease is only spread by foreigners, and requesting the government to shut border.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Two Japanese guys did an about face seeing two large gaijin on the train today, in front of them.

Yes, obviously there is the thought (for some) that the virus is a ‘foreign’ disease and that Japanese can only get it from foreigners.

Well, they are finding out the quickly that it is not the case..,

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Yes I @kurisupisu. I was able to clear a train cart as entered the door and was able to get me a seat on the crazy rush hour train ride to work in the name of GAIJIN lol. They can fear the gaijin all they want. Not sure how the virus cant spread on them crazy rush hour trains.... I enjoy wearing my gas mask on the trains as i commute to work just to give the impression how serious this virus pandemic is. A gas mask that blocks viruses too.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Tokyo is in very dangerous situation now. Everyone should pay attention to infections more seriously.

By the way, I found the following article which is very strange. I would like to make a serious protest against Bloomberg.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

1 ( +3 / -2 )

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

Go Japan!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Plus, the vast majority who actually show any symptoms at all are experiencing mild to moderate ones. That leaves most people who have the virus in their system at all are asymptomatic. This is not to detract from the people who have serious symptoms or pass away - I can't find info on comorbidities, but the link below indicates almost everyone who has died has been aged 70+, and most of them 80+ - around the average life expectancy.

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

Of the 2000 reported covid-19 deaths in Japan on TK to date, 1592, or around 79.1%, have been aged 70 or above. While that is a majority, I think it is unfair to characterize it as "almost everyone".

While I am not aware of any data on co-morbidities with regard to Japan, the CDC does have a very informative page with regard to US cases at:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm

That is, the recovery rate is rising, and the death rate is falling

The 'death rate' you are referring to is the CFR I assume, as the mortality rate per capita, as well as the raw number of deaths per day, are, in fact, rising according to your own cited source, TK:

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

And in any case, they don't want to see a country economically crippled and their children and grandchildren suffer to save a relatively tiny number of older people who are close to the end.

Well, to be fair, even two essentially back to back world wars and the great depression didn't leave countries "economically crippled" for three generations, so it is a bit dramatic to imagine any of the current pandemic measures are some sort of economic doomsday.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

Yes, even by their own metrics Japan is losing on almost all of them, with the highest death rate in Asia despite massive suppression of testing, restricting access to care, and generally faking the numbers.

It is probably due to this reason;

https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Japan-sets-aside-22-million-to-buff-government-s-15202218.php

Japan gov, couldn't do anything without straight out bribing it seems haha.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The picture says it all. The grey mice will forever scurry around in their millions, shoulder to shoulder on their way to work. Nothing will change that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

KnowBetter

27.5% of those that got tested ended up testing positive. As you read this, if you are in a very public, crowded place in Tokyo, the odds that someone within spitting distance has this virus is 1 in 4. How safe do you feel? I truly hope you are well rested, well nourished and have a robust immune system. Ganbatte!

Your statistics don’t add up. While I agree that the numbers have been fudged, there is no chance that Japan/Tokyo are at this point. 1/4 would mean there are millions infected in Tokyo, and even more millions infected in greater Japan. The death rate would be phenomenally higher than current, even with the under reporting. if 1/4 were the case, we would all personally know multiple people that have fallen ill. I only know one friend that had it, and that was some months ago now. I guarantee most people don’t personally know someone that has had it in Japan, maybe a friend of a friend.

Don’t forget that Japan only currently tests people that are already sick and are basically confirmed by doctors at face value to have COVID. So of course out of 1400 tests, 400+ will be positive, because they only test people if they think it’s almost a guarantee that they have it.

The numbers are definitely strange, and I do believe that the true figures are, for one reason or another being played down. But, a 1/4 is insane and currently not feasible no matter how you look at it. Current figures are probably more like 1/400 in Tokyo, maybe even 1/500, which is still a huge fraction higher than currently reported numbers.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So why aren't the hospitals over filling like America if the numbers are so high here like most of the posters here are claiming.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Fiddlers

> So why aren't the hospitals over filling like America if the numbers are so high here like most of the posters here are claiming.

Because everyone here is bored and majority are conspiracy nuts. Also, many Americans have this strange complex where every government is out to get them and is constantly lying to them.

The fact is, no one knows true numbers. Whether the Japanese government is underplaying it or not, is not something we can do anything about. All you can do is, stay cautious, limit outings to restaurants and pubs, wash your hands and constantly wear a mask when outside. Fear mongering doesn’t help in any way, but make people paranoid and panic.

While the looming threat of the virus is certainly real, there isn’t any reason to panic, just yet. Stay safe!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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