A man walks in front of a TV screen showing Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike speaking at a press conference Thursday, in Tokyo. Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
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Tokyo reports 481 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 2,501

53 Comments

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday reported 481 new cases of the coronavirus, up 80 from Wednesday. The number is the result of 2,453 tests conducted on Nov 23.

The tally brought Tokyo's cumulative total to 39,079.

By age group, the highest number of cases were people in their 20s (111), followed by 82 in their 40s and 79 in their 30s.

The number of infected people in Tokyo with severe symptoms is 60, up six from Wednesday, health officials said.

Nationwide, the number of reported cases was 2,501. After Tokyo, the prefectures with the most cases were Osaka (326), Hokkaido (256), Kanagawa (254), Aichi (198), Hyogo (184), Saitama (160), Chiba (82), Okinawa (74), Shizuoka (72), Fukuoka (53) and Ibaraki (51).

Fourteen coronavirus-related deaths were reported.

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53 Comments
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Again a pitiful number of tests considering we're supposedly on 'maximum alert' and the numbers of positive tests seem to be staying higher for longer.

What is the problem with just testing at half capacity for 4 weeks and seeing what the true lay of the land is?

21 ( +26 / -5 )

So? Up 80, and it wasn’t even newsworthy then.

-25 ( +5 / -30 )

Still just one death per day (on average). Looks more like a casedemic...

-21 ( +8 / -29 )

481 new cases. today is a thursday. this is low numbers. i am happy the upward trend has been halted and we are now beating this disgusting virus. as i with firm tone clearly stated, the number of cases will decrease here. i salute the efforts of all the medical staff and govt restrictions, with honorifics.

-27 ( +4 / -31 )

The pan-deniers are out in force, today.

Stay safe, people. Avoid covidiots like the, er, plague.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

....and recycle yesterdays news.

-14 ( +3 / -17 )

A few months ago, the WHO said that finding one positive in eleven tests was a sign of that sufficient people were being tested. I don't know if that has changed, but this is one in five.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Took a quick look at the deaths graph. Peak averages for this month looks about a little less to about the same compared to the peak averages last aug- Sept.

And a lot less than the peak averages in april-may when deaths were the highest

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Not sure though so maybe those with sharper more critical eyes could check

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What's the population of Tokyo again?

Why only daily reports on Tokyo? Aren't there more cities here?

Moderator: The story will be updated at around 7 p.m.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

i@nToday  05:11 pm JST

Took a quick look at the deaths graph. Peak averages for this month looks about a little less to about the same compared to the peak averages last aug- Sept.

And a lot less than the peak averages in april-may when deaths were the highest

No commonsense analysis here, please. We're suppose to be panicking.

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

So, 20% of those tested came back positive. Japan only tests those with flu-like symptoms. I’d imagine they would get much higher results if they tested say 20,000 random people.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

481 new cases... i am happy the upward trend has been halted and we are now beating this disgusting virus...

Sometimes I wonder where I am, probably amongst amoebas....lol

Good guy, new cases ARE an upward trend and we are beating nothing as it is still beating us. It’s obviously hopeless on such a stupid planet....lol

3 ( +9 / -6 )

So, 20% of those tested came back positive. Japan only tests those with flu-like symptoms. I’d imagine they would get much higher results if they tested say 20,000 random people.

Exactly. There is the capacity to test 60,000 / day apparently, and here we are testing 2,453 in the most densely populated city in the country.

Just test 30,000 a day for the next month and see what comes back. If we are still seeing 20% positive rates then there's a much bigger problem than people realize. If the positive rate drops down to below 5%, then we're probably OK.

I don't understand why Japan wouldn't do this. The gov wants to increase confidence that it's OK to host the Olympics, so what better way than to do mass testing and prove to the world that there's no massive problem here.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Japan have no way of getting this under control now because the population is no longer interested in taking precautions. Japanese government have focused so much attention on marginalized groups that general population no longer believe that they are at risk.

Just read yahoo news comments, etc. The majority of posters say that it is just the foreigners getting covid, and says no risk to Japanese people. The only demand was to stop border crossings.

 Japan only tests those with flu-like symptoms. 

Unless you can prove that you have been in within 6 feet of a confirmed case for more than 15 minutes without a mask, then you will need to have severe symptoms requiring hospitalization to be allowed testing for free, otherwise you need to pay 30,000-40,000 yen. Having mild to moderate flu symptoms will not get you a test. If you go to a clinic with a high fever, they generally just give you antibiotics and don't test for anything.

18 ( +22 / -4 )

So, 20% of those tested came back positive. Japan only tests those with flu-like symptoms. I’d imagine they would get much higher results if they tested say 20,000 random people.

You make my day...lol OK, let’s test your 20,000. Then again , 17,500 of those randoms are completely healthy, 2,000 have flu-like symptoms because of a flu and again 500 flu- like symptoms because of COVID, which you were just complaining about...lol

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

So? Up 80, and it wasn’t even newsworthy then.

It doesn't have anything to do with being newsworthy or not. It's the daily count that's been reported everyday since things got a bit crazy (ier).

7 ( +7 / -0 )

raw beer:

Still just one death per day (on average). Looks more like a casedemic...

OK, so why bother wearing masks then, if you don't think it's a big deal? Why bother with the state of emergency? Why bother asking bars to close early? Why ban tourists from coming to Japan? I, for one, would sure like to be able to re-enter Japan without having to undergo a test right before stepping on the plane, just like the Japanese.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Total shut down necessary.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Still just one death per day (on average). Looks more like a casedemic...

OK, so why bother wearing masks then, if you don't think it's a big deal? Why bother with the state of emergency? Why bother asking bars to close early? Why ban tourists from coming to Japan?

Exactly, we should not bother with all those unnecessary measures.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

OK, so why bother wearing masks then, if you don't think it's a big deal? Why bother with the state of emergency? Why bother asking bars to close early? Why ban tourists from coming to Japan?

I dunno. Maybe measures to stop the number of infected, serious cases and deaths increasing and thus overwhelming a medical system which is good but not the best equipped to deal with mass hospitalizations?

Just an idea.

Can I just add I’m not on the Soros, big-pharma, globalist payroll. I’m just offering what I see as a rational opinion.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Exactly. There is the capacity to test 60,000 / day apparently, and here we are testing 2,453 in the most densely populated city in the country.

You are talking of 60,000 tests, Abe promised 200,000 tests a day before he left office. The strong aversion to testing shows that there is no intention to arrest the increase of the virus let alone understand the spread of the virus. May be the policy from the onset has been herd immunity but like sweden it wasn't openly declared for fear of the outlash or some other unknown reason.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Took a quick look at the deaths graph. Peak averages for this month looks about a little less to about the same compared to the peak averages last aug- Sept.

Not sure what exactly you mean by peak averages. Firstly, it is not possible to identify the peak of the wave until there is a downward trend. Secondly, the peak date for deaths on the second/summer wave was September 4th, with 19 deaths. There have been two days this month which exceed that, the 19th and 25th. Finally, the moving average now is around the same as the peak time in the last wave, although if the correlation between the case rate and mortality is similar to previous waves, it will trail the case rate by roughly 2 weeks.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Can the alert get even more panicky?

My boss shuts down again and I quit...

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Facing the music is not a thing Japanese like to partake in.

With vaccines looming and olympics looming, expecting changes on the testing front is only going to bring personal disappointment.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

There will be a significant spike as a result of the past three day weekend.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Just imagine if they would include the age groups of the deceased (as well as their co-morbidities) as is always done with the new "testée-positives". That would provide a bit of context, wouldn't it?

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

It is painful to watch what happens in Tokyo. This is the city that supposedly "can" have the game in 2021. Can you also have the whole population tested for covid, as China did ?

An Action is Worth a Thousand Words.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

News station reports 29 corona virus death today instead of the 14 cases reported here. Why the large disparity?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

This week last ten years average 10,000 influenza c

https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/flu-m/813-idsc/map/130-flu-10year.html

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

This week last ten years average 10,000 influenza cases.

https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/flu-m/813-idsc/map/130-flu-10year.html

This year 150

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nippon.com/ja/japan-data/h00867/amp/

That to me would indicate that icu occupancy and deaths are much lower than a normal winter

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Just imagine if they would include the age groups of the deceased (as well as their co-morbidities) as is always done with the new "testée-positives". That would provide a bit of context, wouldn't it?

Exactly, Hervé. We all know its in the low 80's, as it is all over the world. But making that info available would cost clicks, so no news on that, unfortunately.

We live in the middle of the worst journalistic standards in the history of the profession. Its just a rung or two above thieves who steal from orphanages.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

As the population is no longer involved in taking precautions, Japan has no means of keeping this under control now.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

“Never allow a good crisis go to waste. It’s an opportunity to do the things you once thought were impossible.”

If you google this you will be amazed how this pandemic is being used.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

My boss shuts down again and I quit...

I bet you don’t.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Smart lockdown should be imposed on the hotspot. Pakistan controlled the virus by importing smart lockdown on hotspots cities and strict contact tracing followed by it's polio tracing model. If japan administration is afraid of closing down industrial activities and want to recover from the pandemic hurt economy. It needs to impose strict measures. Although at the end it depends on the people in which direction they want to move the country.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Do you people think the virus either kills everyone, or if it doesn't, they just cough for a day or two and then it goes away?

Have you people not talked to someone who has had it, or even bothered to look into it? This virus is no walk in the park for survivors.

I'm ok with dying - my family is provided for. It's living through the virus and dealing with its after-effects for the rest of my life that worries me.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

No walk in the park? Id like to here a real survivor testimony. Yet have never met or know any one who ever got covid other than the celeberities that gets reported on the TV/Media and what CNN is reporting.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

What about official report and studies ? Obviously, as the illness is new, they are still in the process to studying this virus and its effects, nevertheless one can legitimately want to avoid catching it as the current suspected and/or know effects.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/11/12/national/science-health/wakayama-coronavirus-health-problems-survey/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-020-00281-8

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-long-term-health-effects/covid-19-long-term-health-effects

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Id like to here a real survivor testimony. Yet have never met or know any one who ever got covid other than the celeberities that gets reported on the TV/Media and what CNN is reporting.

Oh god, you're one of those.

So you think the virus doesn't exist. Yes, it's a big conspiracy by every media in every language in every country. Somehow, a secret cabal got together and convinced all these people, in different languages, in most of the countries in the world, to pretend that there were people being infected by the virus in their countries. And somehow, they did all their communications internationally, yet NONE of their communications have leaked?

Yeah, sounds legit.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

These infantile placards are really demeaning, and assumes that the general population are idiots.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Not sure what exactly you mean by peak averages. Firstly, it is not possible to identify the peak of the wave until there is a downward trend. Secondly, the peak date for deaths on the second/summer wave was September 4th, with 19 deaths. There have been two days this month which exceed that, the 19th and 25th. Finally, the moving average now is around the same as the peak time in the last wave, although if the correlation between the case rate and mortality is similar to previous waves, it will trail the case rate by roughly 2 weeks.

Peaks on the moving average graph, like the two you mentioned for this month.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Like @kyronstavic said above, commonsense

2 ( +3 / -1 )

No walk in the park? Id like to here a real survivor testimony. Yet have never met or know any one who ever got covid other than the celeberities that gets reported on the TV/Media and what CNN is reporting.

Family friend who survived against the odds.

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/kenmore-man-back-home-after-nearly-2-month-battle-with-covid-19/71-b03cecc8-5f1c-4163-b533-b98e508a8943

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Have you people not talked to someone who has had it, or even bothered to look into it?

Many of us might already be survivors, without knowing.

On TV, many of us saw Fredo handling it OK.

So you think the virus doesn't exist.

I don't think anyone here has ever said that...

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

This week last ten years average 10,000 influenza cases.

https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/flu-m/813-idsc/map/130-flu-10year.html

This year 150

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nippon.com/ja/japan-data/h00867/amp/

That to me would indicate that icu occupancy and deaths are much lower than a normal winter

This to me indicates that precautions for covid are working well for flu also and it may be possible that deaths due to both covid and flu could be lower than deaths due to flu alone in a normal winter.

Of course it's a developing situation, covid seems to be fast spreading at present so we'll see

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So you think the virus doesn't exist.

I don't think anyone here has ever said that...

Um:

Id like to here a real survivor testimony. Yet have never met or know any one who ever got covid other than the celeberities that gets reported on the TV/Media and what CNN is reporting.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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