Tokyo reports 5 coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 77

Jeez, you feel if they don't have a look at opening the border with these numbers then they never will.

Until the USA and some of the countries in Europe can quell the voice of anti-vaxxers and get the eligible population vaccinated up to the 80-85% level Japan will NOT open the borders freely. It'snot just about being vaccinated. I'd love them to. i want to travel, but its NOT going to happen. Not until the Northern Hemisphere winter is over.

I am interested in knowing how many severe patients under treatment are unvaccinated. Such info in Japan remains unpublished.

Though Japan's covid patient numbers are too small to generalize, in Europe and else, unvaccinated people are said to be responsible for overwhelming local hospitals.

How long is this reporting going to continue? It is really necessary when it's this low? Might as well report flu infected too.

It's over. Enjoy your life!

Even if there will be ZERO new infection and ZERO reported death, Japan will still not open their border until further meetings with LDP-appointed senmonka is done..

Don't strain yourself, local cases probably just a minor factor in reopening borders at this point.

If it's at all considered, it's probably to keep the borders closed so numbers don't go up.

It's the cases in the country of origin that's primarily considered in opening travel from that country

Yes, it’s obviously become quite a difference if you wear the mask also unasked and get vaccinated without discussions , or if you laugh about mask wearers and only follow theories that deny or doubt vaccinations.

Granted that the number of people who actually have the virus is probably a lot higher, but they just don't know it because they aren't getting sick, jabbed or not.

Agree

Japan has acquired herd immunity. All those emergency declarations and restrictions on eatery operating hours needn’t have been imposed in the first place.

Good, very good!

Keep it up.

I think all the mask-wearing in public created a higher hurdle for the virus to jump from victim to victim, inducing it to mutate itself into oblivion. Hahahahaha! induced virus suicide!

I'm loving the idea of a suicidal virus.

Some possible explanations

https://youtu.be/E1GF0H9V_1g

I don't know what to say. Somehow Japan has the magic formula. This needs to be studied and emulated. Ghosh bress us all.

Dr. John Campbell talks about the "Miracle in Japan". Interesting video, though I don't agree with it all...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1GF0H9V_1g&t=803s

Westerners don't wear masks, so the infection doesn't stop.

In the BBC's video coverage of Tokyo, only the British reporter was not wearing a mask.

Not sure how many people who are skeptical of what’s going on here in Japan live in Japan and go about their business here… it’s understandable given the steep decline in cases here. That said, we remain pretty cautious and it makes sense not to rush to open borders coz I think it would be a lot more difficult to “enforce” many foreigners to wear masks. FYI masks wearing here is recommended, not enforced. That’s the difference. Also vaccination is all voluntary, I think many people made their well considered decisions to get the jabs, or not. That’s another difference.

Now it is highly likely that Japan has already reached herd immunity following India, probably mainly through infection, with help of vaccination:

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/positive-rate-daily-smoothed?tab=chart&country=JPN~IND

https://www.thequint.com/coronavirus/more-than-90-percent-have-antibodies-against-coronavirus-report-union-government

Wearing a mask is such a small inconvenience to pay so that everyone can enjoy the outside world. I don’t know why Americans make a big deal out if it.

Raw Beer: You don't agree with anything. Let alone being a responsible member of society. Awful posts. Lots of '.....'

YES edging closer to ZERO, Congrats Japan. well done.

I heard that the entire Asia the sittuation is similar where number of cases and deaths is low.

The pandemic is over in Japan.

Brilliant! Let's keep it low. No need to rush up opening the borders.

Your very sensible comment is being downvoted by the very kneejerk "data analysts" who advocated lockdown only a couple of months ago.

Small businesses deserve breathing space before being brought to their knees again to a chorus of childish "we want this" tantrums.

Wow! Masks and vaccines work! It’s so crystal clear!

When are they going to announce the 6th wave - i.e, inclusion of all the airport testing in the numbers & increase testing meet international standards?

352qq

Westerners don't wear masks, so the infection doesn't stop.

In the BBC's video coverage of Tokyo, only the British reporter was not wearing a mask.

I don´t know what the BBC tells you (keep a bag of salt ready), but when you live in Tokyo you see that masks are endemic, including the gaijins.

However, Japan has had this thing about masks since long before Corona, so it is not a contentious issue here.

Aaron J

When are they going to announce the 6th wave - i.e, inclusion of all the airport testing in the numbers & increase testing meet international standards?

Of course there will be more waves, as the virus becomes endemic and continues to evolve. But as the virus weakens and better treatments and real vaccines (e.g. Novavax and Valneva) become available, it will be disappear as an issue.... unless power-hungry politicians artificially make it into one.

theResident

Until the USA and some of the countries in Europe can quell the voice of anti-vaxxers and get the eligible population vaccinated up to the 80-85% level Japan will NOT open the borders freely.

Are you claiming the Japanese figures are due to the 85% vaccination rate? In that case, how do you explain the figures from e.g. Gibraltar and Israel?

It'snot just about being vaccinated.

I agree, it is more about control.

stormcrow

Wow! Masks and vaccines work! It’s so crystal clear!

Only for a very simplistic view. Reminds me of the old saying: If your only tool is a hammer, than it is crystal clear than everything is a nail.