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Japan set to fully lift coronavirus emergency in Tokyo, 4 other prefectures

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Now we will see just how much people have learned from all of this, or will face a quick return to shutdowns because folks acted stupid! I hope its the former and not the later!

8 ( +23 / -15 )

n other countries that have reopened public areas and businesses, there has been no uptick in coronavirus infections and deaths. 

You are being selective in your commentary, some location have seen a jump in cases because they opened up!

17 ( +33 / -16 )

@oldman

I am writing as another old man. I fully agree with you that the economy needs to get back on track.

In other countries that have reopened public areas and businesses, there has been no uptick in coronavirus infections and deaths

This is not true. Singapore is a prime example of a country which relaxed restrictions and then afterwards had a severe uptick.

We do agree that economies need to open however I think re-opening with caution and common sense measures should occur.

23 ( +30 / -7 )

Time now to support the restaurants and businesses that have been impacted by this State of Emergency. This virus like others is here to stay so we have to get used to living with it.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Time to go out and spend that 10man I'm still waiting for.

25 ( +27 / -2 )

So far the people of Japan have done a good job, but it feels a little too sudden to reopen, peoples safety before profits I say!

I mean I've not even got my Abe-no-Masku. I'm so mad at the world, considering the elderly are more vulnerable, I should be more worried!

-6 ( +11 / -17 )

Yet, I’m still waiting for my elusive masks

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I support reopening, but with caution! Some establishments must still wait it out, so we can figure in the next few weeks if the downward trend in new cases can be sustained. The end is on sight so shouldn’t blow it! Good luck and good health to all on here, let’s continue to be vigilant whiles we get most of our lives back.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

That is very nice to hear.

I think everyone here agree that a re-opening is absolutely OK and necessary.

We all know japanese people are very cautious people and they will do their best, (like they already did) to keep the pandemic under control.

Nobody in Japan will run around without any self-prevention.

But I can see some people walking around without mask. And you know what? 90% of the people without masks are foreigners! I think we foreigners should learn from the japanese people!

My experience from yesterday:

I went to Uniqlo yesterday, but before I could go in, the staff forced me to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and they measure my fever.

I felt very very safe during my shopping at that Uniqlo store.

-18 ( +5 / -23 )

Excellent, get on with it and put all the virus silliness behind

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

Nishimura is the economic revitalization minister and is in charge of the emergency response. This shows you what the priorities are so it's up to the general populace to be smart and remember why the hell there was a shut down in the first place. Don't place money over public health or IT WILL come back and smother whatever economic pipe dreams you may have had.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Kanagawa and Hokkaido also did not meet the required level for new infections in the past week.

I am shocked that Kanagawa and Hokkaido are being required to have new infections! What kind of policy is this?!

In other countries that have reopened public areas and businesses, there has been no uptick in coronavirus infections and deaths. 

In some states in the United States such as Florida, North Carolina, and Texas (and a number of others) where restrictions have been relaxed, the numbers have begun trending upward again. Given that only a small portion of the population has been exposed and (potentially) developed antibodies, it's absurd to expect otherwise. If people with the virus are allowed to come into contact, especially prolonged contact, with others who are vulnerable to infection, then the virus will spread, and the more people who gather, the more will be infected.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Everyday is warm and hot soon. The virus spread get very slow until winter but so worry it in winter.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

So I suppose there will be no emergency by the time my Abenomasks arrive.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

On Saturday, Hutchinson said Arkansas is seeing an increase of Covid-19 cases in what the governor calls a second peak.

cnn.com/2020/05/23/us/arkansas-swim-party-coronavirus/index.html

2 ( +3 / -1 )

With that said, I don't want everything to be done half-a**ed and endanger the lives of people for the sake of just reopening. It needs to be metered and done carefully so that we are not having to repeat this SOE months down the line, or even worse at the cost of more lives or people's health. I still don't see that we are at that point yet.

I went to my local Costco 4 days ago and it was swamped, took me two hours to navigate through that mess, so don’t even think that Japan is going to do a phased anything, the floodgates will open and I just suggest say away because already here in Fukuoka, people are loosening up on their safe distancing, a lot of people aren’t wearing masks, stores are all packed, same goes for malls, playgrounds, so I just stay from people as much as I can. If Japan re-opened everything in incremental phases I wouldn’t object, but this green light go is just crazy.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Everyday is warm and hot soon. The virus spread get very slow until winter but so worry it in winter.

Except that places like Singapore are warm all year round, and yet their infections remain relatively high. If anything, the warm weather will probably cause a spike because people will be out more.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

I went to a beach yesterday, and the parking was closed.. i parked my car like a savage... cops came and asked me to move my car.

Pachinko parlors shouldn’t be open before the beach. I’ll guess that government officials and other workers are looking after their own indulgences. Or they’re in $tight with gaming operators.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Wow, emergency lifted! Time to hit the pachinko parlors! Yeah! Freed from boredom finally! (sarcasm)

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The virus spread get very slow until winter but so worry it in winter.

This is based on the assumption that the virus doesnt spread in hot or hotter weather, just one thing to keep in mind....Brazil!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I agree with Mirai Hayashi, that the hot weather probably has no influence on the virus.

Personal self prevention is the key point!

Face masks, use hand sanitizer and keep social distance as far as it possible.

I can just talk about my living area and my experience, but most of the people who don't care about self prevention are foreigners.

I saw a group of foreigners in a supermarket (5 people), stuck together very close and nobody wears a mask. At the cashier they stood very close to the japanese guy in front of them, even there are marks on the floor where to stand.

The cashier complaint to them, that they should please step more behind. At least they did it.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Japan has been lauded in the international papers in the last few days for the handling of the situation. Hopefully now some people on here will admit they were wrong.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Hospitals arent full, infections are low of course the emergency should be lifted.

The virus isn't going away so what is the point of waiting any longer.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

the economy is made up in that it is a tool made by society. People made it up, so it's not something that should be controlling people against their health

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@Monty

All your points were valid until, you pulled out the "Foreigner card".

Down here in Nagasaki prefecture, I've seen the same thing with the locals.

At the Aeon store people touching every item, no social distancing, no masks.

Same thing at the park, day care bring small children together in bunches, no masks, kids holding hands.

So yeah we see it on both sides of the fence, so put your "Foreigner card' back in your pocket.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@Far East Traveler

I took out the foreigner card, because 90% of the posters here are always complaining about the behavior of the japanese government and the japanese citizens.

I just want the people here to see, that also foreigners are not behaving correctly.

Of course you are right, we see it on both sides.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Winter is coming.

Remain very cautious.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Positive signs. Japan has done an excellent job of containing the virus and is now reaping the rewards.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Far East Angler

All your points were valid until, you pulled out the "Foreigner card".

Down here in Nagasaki prefecture, I've seen the same thing with the locals.

At the Aeon store people touching every item, no social distancing, no masks.

Totally great point! Where I live, its mostly the older people who are the biggest offenders. They seem to not understand what's going on around them. Some of them wear masks, but they wear it around their chin (exposing their noses and mouths)..what's the point of that? And the concept of social distancing shouldn't be that hard, but they seem to have a really difficult time with it. The just want to get as close to you as possible.

And the touching....ugh! So annoying. Especially in the fruits and veggies aisle. Some people (especially the older women) feel that they need to closely inspect every single thing before they put it in their baskets. The least they can do is use the plastic bags to pick up the fruits in veggies.

Yeah...not a foreigner thing, but more of a lack of etiquette from those who live with their heads in the clouds.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Yubaru,

I guess you might have a point and I was just cherry picking ideas to support my own views.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@sf2kToday  

the economy is made up in that it is a tool made by society. People made it up, so it's not something that should be controlling people against their health

Economies and currency are indeed made by people. It replaced the barter system. If you want to quit your job, donate all your money to charity & go back thousands of years to doing everything yourself then be my guest. Hope your hunting and carpentry skills are good or you won't have a house and constantly be on the verge of starvation. May as well cancel your JapanToday subscription as the electric company won't like you not paying your bills. Of course this was said tongue in cheek :-)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

So annoying. Especially in the fruits and veggies aisle. Some people (especially the older women) feel that they need to closely inspect every single thing before they put it in their basket.

But you guys know that this behavior is everywhere in the world. Not only in Japan.

In my home country they don't even touch it, they also eat it. (Strawberries, Cherries..).

Old and young people. Before they buy it, they check the taste.

Don't misunderstand me. I agree with you, that this behavior is bad.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's funny because Japanese, in a way, practice social distancing anyway, they often wear masks and they don't shake hands or hug. It could very be a cultural thing that has made all of the difference.

Think about it, in America some people would laugh at you for wearing a mask right now and taunt you to take it off.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

But you guys know that this behavior is everywhere in the world. Not only in Japan.

In my home country they don't even touch it, they also eat it. (Strawberries, Cherries..).

Old and young people. Before they buy it, they check the taste.

Don't misunderstand me. I agree with you, that this behavior is bad.

I don't know what goes on in other countries. All I can tell you is what I see going on here. You pointed out that foreigners are behaving poorly; I am saying that so are local people and especially the older folks. In these times, no one should be touching anything that they aren't going to buy. It's bad behavior during normal times, its even worse behavior now.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Mirai Hayashi,

100% agree!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It's funny because Japanese, in a way, practice social distancing anyway, they often wear masks and they don't shake hands or hug. It could very be a cultural thing that has made all of the difference.

That's not social distancing. Social distancing is not only avoiding direct contact with people, but its also avoiding indirect contact, AND keeping at least 2 meter distance from others. The part that a lot of Japanese seem to have an issue with is maintaining the latter.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Time to go and spend the money I haven't applied for yet from the government ;-)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Mirai Hayashi

That's not social distancing. Social distancing is not only avoiding direct contact with people, but its also avoiding indirect contact, AND keeping at least 2 meter distance from others. 

Avoiding direct close contact is the goal of "social distancing". Indirect close contact, such as walking past someone without speaking, is not so much a risk. The virus is mainly spread via air vapors emitted from our mouth when we talk or cough, and our nose when we sneeze. Directly engaging people face to face within 2m is the main way it's spread.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

For those worried about people touching fruits and vegetables in the stores.... scientists believe you cannot become infected with COVID-19 by eating. The virus is destroyed by our digestive system. If you rub that avocado around your eyes and nose after obaasan touched it then... Transmission by breathing, coughing and sneezing are the main risk factors. Wash your hands often to reduce risk of touching face. When you go to the grocery store, either wear a mask or hold you breath and pinch your nose while shopping :-D

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

I don't know what goes on in other countries. All I can tell you is what I see going on here. You pointed out that foreigners are behaving poorly; I am saying that so are local people and especially the older folks. In these times, no one should be touching anything that they aren't going to buy. It's bad behavior during normal times, its even worse behavior now.

I agree it is very bad behavior, but what can you do, not much, a lot of elderly people do this, you can’t always wrap fruit like you do veggies, but old people will do what they want and this country is not about to tell people, especially the elderly, please refrain from touching the fruit, but then again fruits like Watermelon and musk melon you do need to touch and tab to make sure you get a ripe one. I brought back from the States Veggie wash or you can use a light mild soap to wash the fruit and veggies, but try not to stress out because old people will continue to do what they do as aggravating it can be.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There are a few exceptions, but there has been a strong correlation between infection rates and weather.

And the virus has been experimentally shown to "die" quickly in warm humid conditions.

So I expect the infections to be low during the summer and return in autumn.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Hopefully now some people on here will admit they were wrong.

Why? One thing still stands out, Japan limited testing, and due to that fact, it artificially kept it's overall numbers down. You seem to be saying thats a good thing!

So if I tell you we are no longer testing for cancer, does that mean from now on there is no cancer in Japan?

3 ( +8 / -5 )

It's funny because Japanese, in a way, practice social distancing anyway, they often wear masks and they don't shake hands or hug. It could very be a cultural thing that has made all of the difference.

If you think this is what defines social distancing you have no real idea what it means!

Jump on a morning train on the Yamanote Line, and then tell me with such confidence that Japanese "practice social distancing anyway"!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Agreed it’s always the ignorant old women that grope all the fruit and vegetables without a care for anyone else. Anytime you see such abhorrent behaviors just say something to them, loud enough for others to hear. They always stop after that.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Vince BlackToday  12:44 pm JST

Agreed it’s always the ignorant old women that grope all the fruit and vegetables without a care for anyone else. Anytime you see such abhorrent behaviors just say something to them, loud enough for others to hear. They always stop after that.

People from every country around the world handle fruits and vegetables prior to buying as a way to determine state of ripeness. This is normal and not considered bad behavior. For those concerned... COVID-19 is not spread by eating it. It's a respiratory thing.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Agreed it’s always the ignorant old women that grope all the fruit and vegetables without a care for anyone else. Anytime you see such abhorrent behaviors just say something to them, loud enough for others to hear. They always stop after that.

oh yeah! You a ba-dass raising your voice to elderly women for doing what any smart person would do, check the fruit for softness, bruises, rotton spots, etc. I guess you’re gonna be the inventor of the automatic pocket fruit checker, right?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I squeeze the fruit for ripeness. Anyone who tries to tell me not to will hear my opinion on their opinion.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Justin Person

The virus is mainly spread via air vapors emitted from our mouth when we talk or cough, and our nose when we sneeze.

For those concerned... COVID-19 is not spread by eating it. It's a respiratory thing.

> You may not get infected by ingesting food that has the virus on it (ie. surface contact), however, you need to remember that the virus can not only be contracted though airborne particles, but it also can be contracted by touching surfaces that have the virus on it, and then touching your face (rubbing eyes or nose -which surprisingly people do several hundred times a day.)

This is what I mean by indirect contact. Touching handrails on escalators, or elevator buttons, touch panel screens, smartphones, handrails on trains, basically any surface that may have been touched or have been in contact with by an infected person. That is why this virus is so highly effective with propagating itself. It can live on surfaces for several days which people will touch and infect themselves.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

oh yeah! You a ba-dass raising your voice to elderly women for doing what any smart person would do, check the fruit for softness, bruises, rotton spots, etc. I guess you’re gonna be the inventor of the automatic pocket fruit checker, right?

Its one thing to pickup fruit to check for ripeness, its another to touch everything in the bin and potentially contaminate or damage other people's food. If I need to pick up a piece of food to check for damage or ripeness, I usually do it using the plastic bag near the fruit and vegetable bin.

While we're on the subject, another thing I often notice is people do is put their fruit or vegetable directly in their basket without putting in a plastic bag first. Even before this whole corona thing, that always baffled me. But now with this virus going around, I really don't understand how people can do this. I rarely see stores cleaning those baskets....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

That is why this virus is so highly effective with propagating itself. It can live on surfaces for several days which people will touch and infect themselves.

The scientists I read, have said that while you say what is true, this is a case of one of those situations where non-scientific people read something, and misinterpret it. While it lives on surfaces for several days, they say that doesn't mean that it's particularly transmittable from those surfaces.

Even the CDC is saying that they don't believe that surface transmission is the main way it is spreading.

It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads, but we are still learning more about how this virus spreads.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan has been lauded in the international papers in the last few days for the handling of the situation.

I'm still wondering what Japan did. Japan has not done worse or better than any other country along the western side of the Pacific Ocean.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I don't have any problem with checking fruit and vegetables, but this whole time, elderly people in my area seem to not care about the coronavirus at all. Many not wearing masks, coughing and sneezing everywhere, standing really close (too close for normal circumstances), and several times when people have been social distancing in line, an elderly person will come and stand in the gap. :|

Usually I don't mind that old people don't give a crap, but now it's a little...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

While we're on the subject, another thing I often notice is people do is put their fruit or vegetable directly in their basket without putting in a plastic bag first. Even before this whole corona thing, that always baffled me. But now with this virus going around, I really don't understand how people can do this. I rarely see stores cleaning those baskets....

Fruits and vegetables should not be considered clean when you buy them. You haven't seen what happens to them on the way to the store. The basket is fine - you should be washing all your fruit and vegetables before eating anyways, particularly when eating raw.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Back on topic please.

Unfortunately the governments (including but not only Japan and Tokyo) have created rods for their own backs here. They have convinced so many of the low information/low intelligence portion of the population that the virus is highly dangerous, even to the young and healthy, that they will have trouble now in persuading such people to return to normality. The road to (economic) hell is paved with good intentions.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I got it. The government is bleeding cash to mitigate the effects of the virus on the economy. They just put money over life into this.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

One can only hope the people have learned how to protect themselves from the virus and they continue to take precautions. Tokyo should be very cautious about this. The population density and the madness of peak hours could very easily create a major outbreak virtually overnight. Perhaps, their saving grace is, it’s coming into summer.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

the government will establish a transitional period and assess the infection situation every three weeks...

And what is health minister Kato and his clowns doing the rest of the time? Proactive testing or sleeping in diet as usual? Oh well, I guess there are much more important things to assess at the moment. (sarcasm)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tokyo-EngrToday 06:51 am JST

This is not true. Singapore is a prime example of a country which relaxed restrictions and then afterwards had a severe uptick.

We do agree that economies need to open however I think re-opening with caution and common sense measures should occur.

Singapore counts 23 deaths for corona virus

end of discussion, lockdown is useless

1 ( +2 / -1 )

justaskingToday 01:46 pm JST

Japan has been lauded in the international papers in the last few days for the handling of the situation.

I'm still wondering what Japan did. Japan has not done worse or better than any other country along the western side of the Pacific Ocean.

the virus that hit Far East Asia and the one which hit the west are different, there were 5 variations of this virus and there was just one country which had all of them

wanna guess which country is ?

the one which Pompeo and Colin Powell come from.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

AkulaToday 10:40 am JST

Positive signs. Japan has done an excellent job of containing the virus and is now reaping the rewards.

I agree with you

Among the G7 countries Japan is the one who had the less impact in therms of cases and, especially, deaths.

That's great, especially considering how much hysteric comments were here a months ago.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

the economy is made up in that it is a tool made by society. People made it up, so it's not something that should be controlling people against their health

Education has failed on so many levels as illustrated here.

I got it. The government is bleeding cash to mitigate the effects of the virus on the economy. They just put money over life into this.

Education ...

I'm still wondering what Japan did. Japan has not done worse or better than any other country along the western side of the Pacific Ocean.

The “k” variation of the virus probably predominates here. It’s much less harmful. Just luck perhaps.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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