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84% concerned about record coronavirus cases in Japan: poll

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Over 80% are concerned, but more than 40% want the go to campaign to be extended.

So a lot of people want the government to do something, but only as long as they don't have to refrain from enjoying themselves, that is not responsible and explains why cases are increasing.

12 ( +24 / -12 )

This is a telephone poll to old folks that watch nhk everyday.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

many tourist attractions have been crowded on weekends and holidays.

84% are worried about the virus.... but not enough to stay away from non-essential crowded places.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

as for why the death rates appear to be so low Dr Kondo addresses the issue directly:

Because PCR tests are not being carried out sufficiently on deceased patients, there are concerns that the number of people who have died from COVID-19 is actually higher than reported. Kondo said, "If a cause of death cannot be ascertained, then accurate coronavirus death rates cannot be obtained."

His words. Not mine

8 ( +17 / -9 )

The cases are surging due to the governments Go To Travel and Go To Eat campaigns. Vote them out of office at the next election and chose a party that actually cares about their citizens!!!

7 ( +20 / -13 )

Imagine just how concerned they'd be if the Japanese government actually tested in larger numbers to do proper trace and contact in order to mitigate the number of cases from spreading around the entire country.

You would get numbers similar to Europe.

Those numbers would not be easy to swallow and would put an end to these stupid 'Go To Travel' programs.

not to mention the stupid Olympics. And that's why the J Gov will never seriously test

6 ( +16 / -10 )

If there are these positives out there, they would turn sick and die.

They are. They are just not diagnosed as covid deaths because the gov is not testing. so when people here die they are listed as dying from complications of preexisting conditions that are excacerbated by covid.

4 ( +15 / -11 )

Imagine just how concerned they'd be if the Japanese government actually tested in larger numbers to do proper trace and contact in order to mitigate the number of cases from spreading around the entire country. Those numbers would not be easy to swallow and would put an end to these stupid 'Go To Travel' programs.

3 ( +15 / -12 )

Over half of Japan pathologists' requests for postmortem coronavirus tests rejected: survey

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200522/p2a/00m/0na/010000c

To get a proper understanding of the coronavirus death rate, the tests must be done more widely," the society stated. It is also asking for postmortem testing for people suspected of having had the novel coronavirus to prevent infections from spreading among bereaved families and pathologists.

> Toshikazu Kondo, director of the association, said, "I think it's a matter of course that public health centers are putting care priorities on the living. But if a deceased person is found to have been infected with the novel coronavirus, then people who have been in close contact with them can be traced, and further infections prevented."

The director of the Japanese Society for Forensic Pathology, Toshikazu Kondo,

3 ( +13 / -10 )

@Do the hustle

You may want to check your math.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Over 80% are concerned, but more than 40% want the go to campaign to be extended.

People can be concerned about rising numbers for reasons other than their health.

Personally, I am not concerned about catching the virus(if I haven't already) I am concerned about the economic and social impact of rising numbers.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

virusrex

Over 80% are concerned, but more than 40% want the go to campaign to be extended.

So a lot of people want the government to do something, but only as long as they don't have to refrain from enjoying themselves, that is not responsible and explains why cases are increasing.

This exactly. I've witnessed so many people around me do exactly this. In (online) conversations with me, they state how "worried" of the virus they also are, yet the next thing I see: lots of their photos from restaurants, amusement parks, festivals, photos of them hugging other people etc. I see this as blatant lying, selfish behaviour and irresponsible behaviour - which is why I'm not friends with many of these people anymore.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Most Japanese I talk to really don't care a whole lot for Japanese politics, much less American. Often, they have no idea that Trump lies all the time, or that Biden is a much more caring president elect who will promote diplomacy and friendly ties with other nations. They don't understand the presidency of the United States and how it can affect America and the world because politicians in Japan do not wield the same power, no matter how high up they go.

The fact Abe was Trump's biggest free world supporter probably gave the impression to Japanese that Trump was a fine president, with nothing more further from the truth.

The ignorance is typical, which is why there is such a high percentage of people in Japan who think nothing will change for them, and perhaps in the short run it won't, but the long term picture will show a different results, as international trade and overall relations is connected and the US relationship with China and other countries.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Doctors, nurses and other health professionals have by now gathered quite a lot of knowledge of the virus, meaning they can treat the patients more effectively, resulting in less deaths. That's why we shouldn't stare at the death numbers alone. I think it's the long-haulers, the long lasting effects of the virus, that are much more concerning. There's already quite a lot of data of how much havoc the virus causes to bodies, but there's still so much that is yet uncovered, that we don't know that well. And because of all of this 'unknown', we should do all that we can, to stop the spread. The problem of the long lasting effects isn't only for the individuals, it's also for the municipalities, for the government. To begin with:

Less tax money for the government, but more expenses in the form of benefits and compensations, as some people can't work anymore after their bodies have been destroyed by the virus

strained health care systems, taking care of the long-haulers on top of their acute covid-19 patients and their 'regular patients'

strained social service systems, if e.g. parents can't take care of their kids anymore due to health reasons
-1 ( +2 / -3 )

And if your concerned about long term effects they would be thousands of people on Twitter etc everyday by now complaining but there aren't.

there are tons of people complaining. wife reads them to me all the time. People complaining that they can't get a test when they want to

Japan has low obesity and wear masks everywhere isnt that the most probable reason for the low death rate and low hospitalizations?

no because as many have discussed here before, many Japanese just cover their mouths with the masks, so they can still be infected through their noses. Others wear it on the chin...etc

Why keep trying to make it out as some giant conspiracy?

We are not talking about a conspiracy. What we are merely saying is that the gov isn't taking the proper measures to test and contact trace like they should. And as a result their numbers can't be trusted.

That's all.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

This is the time for the opposition party to step up with a bold initiative to stop the "Go to" program, demand more testing, more direct compensation for hard hit companies and industries. Anything to differentiate themselves from the moribund LDP, but they won't as they don't want to cause waves. But that is what you must do as an opposition party!

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

Let us assume it is correct what are you saying.

But that means that Japan faces a high increase of death rates (like Europe or US) since 11 months.

Even undiagnosed for COVID, such an increase of death rates will give an alarm to all medical and government autorities and that is impossible to keep secret or hide.

Sure it is. If its not diagnosed, and that's EXACTLY what Dr Kondo said.

Monty, if you are expecting dead bodies on the street as proof that we are being hit hard by the pandemic you are going to be disappointed

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

According to vital statistics from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, preliminary results up until July show that some 18,000 fewer people had died in Japan as of July 2020 than they had by the same time last year. So what has been going on in the background to the pandemic?

People have been working from home, so the Karoshi rate will plummet. Also the state of emergency made many people stay at home so less deaths due to heat exposure or automobile accidents....

There are certainly some positive effects on people from the pandemic and i sincerely hope we don't go back to normal once all this is over

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

You would get numbers similar to Europe.

Why does Japan only have 1800 deaths. If there are these positives out there, they would turn sick and die.

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

Look at it this way, Japan's population declined by more than half a million people in 2019, and that was even before the pandemic. In spite of the huge number of deaths, no one saw dead people in the middle of the street. People just continue to die and the rest of us just get on with life. Our population declined by over half a million last year and no one really felt it. So we could in theory have the same death rates in Europe and no one would be any the wiser. As long as we keep our heads in the sand and pretend that we are special and that things are alright here we will never beat this thing.

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

The annualized death rate is not higher,

of course its not. Karoshi is down. Death from the seasonal flu is down. Death from car accidents is down. That doesn't mean that the covid deaths are not on the rise.

and if hospitals haue been experiencing higher death rates don't you think they would have said so?

hospitals here do not treat covid cases the way they treat them overseas. And most people can't afford a test.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Oh - @marcelito: It is probably 5000+, I agree with you! But unless there us mass testing, then we will never really know, will we?

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

So, 26% are not concerned about it? There is the problem right there.

-5 ( +13 / -18 )

If a dead person is not tested for Covid, body is returned to the family where it stays for 2 to 3 days with all the family and relatives gathering. Then the body is taken by the funeral directors for cremation. By the time it is all over all those people would have been exposed to Covid...

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

how many positiv (sic) cases, how many deaths...they completely lost interest.

Is it good or not?

It is definitely good for the virus.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

84% concerned about record coronavirus cases in Japan: poll

The lack of effort to keep social distance + the increase of those inefficient plastic masks use contradicts this poll.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Monty;

But that means that Japan faces a high increase of death rates (like Europe or US) since 11 months.

Even undiagnosed for COVID, such an increase of death rates will give an alarm to all medical and government autorities and that is impossible to keep secret or hide.

Nobody is saying that Japan is hiding deaths but rather the argument is that the real number

of deaths from Covid-19 is higher than the official numbers due to the low number of PCR tests pre and

postmortem.

Okay, even if it was assumed that the gov't is hiding (which it is not) the number of deaths, how do you

support your stand that it is difficult to hide deaths ?

I can bet my entire savings, you don't even know the number of deaths so far from all causes.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

The annualized death rate is not higher, and if hospitals haue been experiencing higher death rates don't you think they would have said so?

You and I can only know through the media as we are not privy to information. Since there is never report of the number of tests carried out but just the positives a lot of people believe these as the true numbers and when compared to say Europe or the U.S. as they always do are complacent that the virus is not prevalent

here. There is just so much info out there and just cannot rely on one source of information and have to develop the ability to make self judgement of information we see or read.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

@Dr. Lucifer

support your stand that it is difficult to hide deaths ?

Because if a very high unusual increase of deaths will appear, it will be made public because the reason for that must be investigated.

Of course I don't know the number of deaths from all causes, but medical staff knows them.

And if there is some unusual thing, like a high increase, happening, the public must and will be informed, because the reason for that must be investigated.

You can not hide that!

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Go to travel is not the problem. I traveled 6 times since spring and have never seen a surge in cases where I went, even after joining outdoors events with a few hundred people. It can only be a concern if some go to snacks or hostess bars, etc......

Go to eat is the problem. Packing in a small space, drinking, talking is the ideal place for the virus. Drunk people stop thinking about their behavior. Good aeration is necessary.

Otherwise, for a country of 127 million people, figures remain pretty low, whatever we say. People get concerned because of too much media attention. When the flu, it can be up to 30-50000 thousands a day.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

Well I guess I only hang out with the other 16%, literally as the time passes my clise circle cares less and less, both Japanese and foreigners. I guess most respondents were just shy to say: 'No, I don't care any more, sir/ma'm'

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

With you Monty. It's becoming more like the weather every day. It's something you check on a daily basis. I care, I'm concerned, but it can't control my life anymore. What can be controlled is the way that I behave. Wear a mask properly - wash my hands - give others plenty of space and stay out of anywhere that I feel remotely uncomfortable in. This virus is rampant, and with the amount of asymptomatic cases, with the death rate SO low here, I really do consider it a waste of public money to embark on mass testing for the sake of it. It's WAY to late to implement test and trace at this point as has been shown in the UK. Only works with closed borders AND early on in the outbreak.

A friend of mine works on a 6 man trading desk in London. None of them have actually been sick, but last week they all took an antigen test. 5 out of 6 came back with antibodies. None of them knew when they had even had it.

Sure - the numbers are going to go up now. We may well sat 500+ a day in Tokyo soon as people retreat inside with cooler weather. But this week looks great and may offer a small respite. I am sure that at some point Tokyo will have to do what Hokkaido has already done and reissue a request for bars/restaurants to close a little early. Not the end of the world.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Because if a very high unusual increase of deaths will appear, it will be made public because the reason for that must be investigated.

The reported info is provided by who ? and if there was a high number of deaths from morbidity exacebated by covid-19 why should there be an investigation when it is clearly evident there was no foul play involved ?

Ask yourself why you have to investigate something that doesn't need being investigated. If there was no covid-19 and there were reports of people dying from it then that would merit an investigation. People with underlying illnesses dying from Covid-19 is not unusual and doesn't merit an investigation. Knowing the real cause of death is what is important and being asked of.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Yeah, right. They are all concerned, but not concerned enough to do anything about it except spread it. Yesterday I went shopping and on my way passed several restaurants at peak lunch hour. They were jam packed -- more than I had ever seen -- with zero social distancing, and the seats set outside had people sitting shoulder to shoulder. Asked my neighbor what was up and she said today was the deadline to use the 3000 yen in coupons for the cities "Go To Eat" campaign. So, it seems like THAT was the main concern of most people in my area, and in the city it wasn't much different, either. You can't say you're genuinely concerned about the virus spreading and then demand the Go To Campaign be extended so you can go eat crab for cheaper than usual, or race to Kura-zushi, where it's packed, to try and take part in their point discount system. Well, you can, but that's like not studying and then going to a shrine to pray you'll pass a test.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

@El Rata

'No, I don't care any more, sir/ma'm'

That is correct.

Many many people all over the world are getting tired of this COVID thing and start to "don't care anymore".

Almost all my friends inside and outside Japan have no idea what are the numbers of tests, how many positiv cases, how many deaths...they completely lost interest.

Is it good or not?

I don't know...

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Last 2 chapters in my upper post are "mixed"

Many people always complain and scream for action from the government.

That is completely waste of time. After 11 months in the pandemic, I think we all understand how Japan is handling the pandemic.

If you find it good or bad how they handle it, doesn't matter.

What do matters is how we all personal behave.

Just sitting on the Sofa and waiting that the government will keep you safe, is a complete blue eyed way.

Everybody has to take his or her life in his own hands and decide by themselves how to stay safe during this pandemic.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

my thoughts too Fuzzy. give the autumn leaves a miss this year if you're worried

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

3 more sensible and non hysterical posts from Nihonview. You've summed it up with the deaths. Yes - IF (and I consider it a massive waste of public funds) free, mass testing was implemented, the actual infection rate probably wouldn't be very far off, if not the same of some European countries. But, this is what the Government have decided and that what it is. Does anybody think that this policy is going to be reversed almost 1 year into the epidemic?

You CAN"T hide Death.

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

84% of Japan is at least wearing masks. Seems about right , doesn't it !

We'll be fine . It is only few more months

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

No one is going to be convinced by anyone else's arguments here. Why do you people feel the need to debate?

Make peace with the world. Do what you think is right for yourself and have a nice day!

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

I personally know several recovered Covid patients.In most cases, it is not lethal at all...

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

"The cases are surging due to the governments Go To Travel and Go To Eat campaigns. Vote them out of office at the next election and chose a party that actually cares about their citizens!!!"

LOL, Europe and America are experiencing a huge wave of covid 19, they did not have the go to campaign. More likley, the weather is turning cold.

-11 ( +7 / -18 )

Just hoping they don't suspend "Go To'' before the long weekend. One more trip to get out of the way.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Aly,

The annualized death rate is not higher, and if hospitals haue been experiencing higher death rates don't you think they would have said so?

And if your concerned about long term effects they would be thousands of people on Twitter etc everyday by now complaining but there aren't.

Japan has low obesity and wear masks everywhere isnt that the most probable reason for the low death rate and low hospitalizations?

Why keep trying to make it out as some giant conspiracy?

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

Ashley - You realise that Go To is creating a massive stimulus by itself, it is already keeping a lot of people employed - a large majority in the lower income bracket. Big picture Sweetie.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

@Aly

They are just not diagnosed as covid deaths because the gov is not testing. so when people here die they are listed as dying from complications of preexisting conditions that are excacerbated by covid.

Let us assume it is correct what are you saying.

But that means that Japan faces a high increase of death rates (like Europe or US) since 11 months.

Even undiagnosed for COVID, such an increase of death rates will give an alarm to all medical and government autorities and that is impossible to keep secret or hide.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Aly RustomToday  09:14 am JST

as for why the death rates appear to be so low Dr Kondo addresses the issue directly:

Because PCR tests are not being carried out sufficiently on deceased patients, there are concerns that the number of people who have died from COVID-19 is actually higher than reported. Kondo said, "If a cause of death cannot be ascertained, then accurate coronavirus death rates cannot be obtained."

His words. Not mine

It's a reasonable point make. And given that the PCR tests are throwing up large numbers of false positives, nobody really knows what the true infection rate is, regardless of what the government is hiding.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

@Bo

Be positive and be careful, do the right thing, wear the mask and distance like most are doing and the numbers will stay low,

I 100% agree.

Like I said before:

As long as everyone is doing his or her best personal possible prevention, we can lead an almost normal life, without losing jobs and destroying the economics.

In my home country, 2 of my friends lost their jobs because of the stupid lockdowns.

Currently, they have no idea how to survive with their families.

I think all of you here can imagine how they feel and how they think about lockdowns and all this over paranoid preventions.

And I repeat it again:

Numbers are not rising because of Go to eat or go to travel campaign.

Numbers are rising because many people stops with personal preventions.

The personal behavior of each person according preventions, inside Japan and outside Japan, is the key to keep the numbers low and gives us the possibility to lead an almost normal life.

That is completely waste of time. After 11 months in the pandemic, I think we all understand how Japan is handling the pandemic.

Many people always complain and scream for action from the government.

-13 ( +4 / -17 )

Be positive and be careful, do the right thing, wear the mask and distance like most are doing and the numbers will stay low,

J Gov is doing a great job, as are the J people!

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

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