Abe says no need yet for emergency declaration; Tokyo Olympics still on

When the history books record 2020 the cancellation of the Olympics will be a minor footnote compared to the worldwide human suffering, deaths and economic losses. Abe, get in touch with reality.

every other country in the world has an exponential infection rate. Only Japan has a linear one. Not possible.

That man is on a different planet.

Not a single reporter at that press conference challenged his "data" about the number of cases in Japan. Not a single one questioned her the numbers could possibly be accurate when very few are being tested. It was a pre-scripted chaban.

with 148 countries affected by corona this is very arrogant to say the Olympics are still on. It's not about you

Of course there's no problem...of course!

This is an act of selfishness. And money. People and their health ranks at the bottom of the list for Abe.

Tokyo 2020 is finished, it is clearly impossible now. Its just a matter of when the announcement is made. Sooner rather than later is best. Leaving the decision until late April is reckless.

Tokyo-Sapporo 2021.

15) Japan 804

Japan continues its downward trend. Good Job! That what gives,

Really? I just don’t believe that.

Among developed nations only the US tests for COVID-19 at a lower rate than Japan.

The US is testing at a rate of 42 tests per million people.

Japan is testing at a rate of 80.5 tests per million people.

The UK is testing at a rate of 450 tests per million people.

Italy is testing at a rate of 1420 tests per million people.

South Korea is testing at a rate of 4800 tests per million people.

And yet, despite this low testing rate, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan jumped 9% from March 13 to March 14.

What gives, Abe?

"We will carry out necessary and sufficient economic and fiscal steps flexibly and without a pause," he said.

Whatever has Abe’s government been doing to now?

Raising taxes and giving back less and less to the people of Japan.

Japan has been moribund for three decades.

Abe is on permanent ‘pause’!

Is there some sort of media blackout here, or have reporting restrictions been applied? Is it official government released data only? Why aren’t more people directly affected by this speaking out?

It's obvious there's a media blackout, but it's the "self-censorship" of the kisha club members and the media conglomerates that make it effective. Don't forget that all the media conglomerates in Japan are sponsors of the Olympics and thus have a vested interest.

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

This will not turn out well.

Sorry Akie but none of that "unique" nonsense please

Japan continues its downward trend.

Japan is indeed continuing its downward trend, just not in the manner you suggest.

There’s no shortage of virus related articles (shops selling out of toilet paper and masks, restaurants being affected by the halting of baseball events, sumo in an empty arena, few people in Haneda airport etc etc) - but where’s the IMPORTANT journalism (total number of new cases per prefecture day by day, age and gender info of cases, specific locations of cases within prefectures, timely information of places being disinfected, photos of places being disinfected etc.)?

If they are purposely understating/not stating things because of the Olympics then that is despicable. If they think that people don’t ‘need to know’ this information then that is irresponsible beyond belief.

The way to flatten the curve of this virus is to minimise social contact, minimise travel, and maintain hygiene levels. Not being completely open and honest with people isn’t going to achieve this.

Fukushima all over again! When all else fails just lie to the people.

It was a pre-scripted chaban.

Everything he does is a pre-scripted chaban, so no surprise there.

The lack of specific case reporting in the media raises suspicion. Is there some sort of media blackout on reporting cases and locations?

Most other media outlets around the world are doing specific reporting on a daily basis regarding new cases, their locations, local implications, etc.

I can find out details of the number of new cases in the UK, Italy, Spain, Canada, the US, South Korea - not only nationwide but localised data. Officials and representatives of counties, states, cities, and towns are speaking out and communicating with their communities. Japan is remarkably quiet. I went to my city office on Friday and nobody would tell me if there had been any cases presented in my town (didn’t want to or didn’t know?).

Is there some sort of media blackout here, or have reporting restrictions been applied? Is it official government released data only? Why aren’t more people directly affected by this speaking out?

As others also pointed out under previous articles, it is not just about Japan but the other countries of the world. Even if Japan contains the virus to some extent, it is questionable if the other countries also do. The Olympics is a global event...

My hope is that the public reassurances about the Olympics going as planned are just a facade and that behind the scenes they are discussing contingency plans for postponing them so that at least Tokyo can salvage the games at a later date.

My concern is that Abe is so fixated on them going ahead as planned since his political life is staked to it that he is shutting down any sort of rational internal discussion about it and the games will simply be cancelled because they never made any plans, which would be a much bigger train wreck for Japan.

I'm not able to tell if you are really serious, but it's called "lack of testing". Korea is testing at 10K tests a day, while Japan has only conducted about 12K testing in the past two months! It's a very simple equation, if Japan opens up the floodgates as other countries have done and tests the population.

Its like Fukushima all over again.

Fukushima all over again! When all else fails just lie to the people.

Yup! 100% correct! When you think about the close proximity we are to Korea and China with the amount of cases in those countries and given Japan is one of largest travel destination for people coming from these countries that have the highest outbreak, NOT taking it seriously or calling it an emergency, not pushing for more testing of the public and screening and not willing to cancel the Olympics shows that Japan is more concerned about the impact of the economy over the health and safety of the entire nation.

Japan continues its downward trend. Good Job! That what gives,

@Caliboy I'm not able to tell if you are really serious, but it's called "lack of testing". Korea is testing at 10K tests a day, while Japan has only conducted about 12K testing in the past two months! It's a very simple equation, if Japan opens up the floodgates as other countries have done and tests the population.

I don't get it. Only 2% of the patients die (elderly and people with pre-existing conditions). Most people who get the virus have no or only mild symptoms. Why is there such a huge over reaction to this?

I've explained this to you when you've asked it on the board previously. Do you not read the responses to your questions?

stupid is as stupid does

Abe won't cancel because of ratings, the IOC will cancel and everything will be regrettable and not Japan's faul.

Limited testing means limited confirmed COVID-19 cases.

And yes, there appears to be a media blackout or perhaps media quarantine would be a more appropriate expression.

The link below is to COVID-19 testing data provided by Our World In Data. Our World in Data (OWID) is a scientific online publication that focuses on large global problems such as poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, existential risks, and inequality. The publication's founder is the economist Max Roser. The research team is based at the University of Oxford.

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-testing

No one is coming for the Olympics. It's not going to happen. The virus is yet to peak in Europe and the US. It will not be over by the Olympics.

So they're doubling "testing capacity", and yet are still only using one quarter of the current capacity... smoke and mirrors.

Seriously, some posters here are so naive.

Japan’s numbers are low because, THEY AREN'T TESTING PEOPLE!

Abe says no need to call a national emergency or consider postponing the Olympics? Really?????? Denial at its finest!!!

The narratives for how the Olympics cancellation has been the plan all along is not finished yet. But the best script writers are working on it 24/7 lol

Japan is testing at a rate of 80.5 tests per million people.

Actually, when you consider that this figure includes tests conducted for Princess Diamond passengers and exclude them, it is around 50 per million. Japan’s healthcare system is trending downwards into third world territory just like their economy. Thanks all to the communist dictator.

And I thought my country's head of state was an idiot.

On the bright side, this virus is exposing a number of these so-called leaders' inability to lead during a crisis. Maybe, just maybe, enough people will realize this and vote for their opposition. Although, it's probably not a good idea to count on the intelligence of the majority of people.

NHK reports that on March 14th, Abe said " Within this month, it is expected that up to 8,000 people will be tested in a day. With these tests, so-called cluster-infections will be detected and responded early, and diagnosis will be available early also to prevent serious cases."

Why the slow response? Why wasn't this testing started from the outset?

I don't get it. Only 2% of the patients die (elderly and people with pre-existing conditions). Most people who get the virus have no or only mild symptoms. Why is there such a huge over reaction to this?

This is exactly the kind of response that is so concerning regarding the way this issue is being covered here.

The information is out there. I’ve seen it mentioned by many posters on here. It’s been published by reputable news outlets - go check the BBC website, the Guardian website to start. They also contain links to further sources.

The ‘over reaction’ is necessary to ‘flatten the curve’. This means slowing down the spread of the virus which is important to take the strain off hospitals and health care providers.

Ask yourself the following: Do you want 1 million people going to hospitals tomorrow, or 1 million people going to hospitals spread over the next 3 months?

Most cases of infections seem to be quite mild. Maybe some of us have had it already and have recovered - but how many people did we pass it on to during that time? In the most serious cases, people need urgent care and attention. Ask yourself again, would you want an elderly relative in such a condition going to hospital with 1 million other people, or with beds ready and available?

If people don’t understand the serious implications of the threat, then they won’t change their behaviour accordingly. The media has to do better here. It’s clear the government isn’t being transparent about the numbers or the locations of cases, and as a result people won’t be doing enough to minimise social contact.

gokai:

You may not be bothered about getting the virus, but what happens if you pass it onto an elderly person like zichi? Won't you feel a bit guilty? Can you at least think about other, more vulnerable people? The elderly are dropping like flies in northern Italy. Tell their families that this pandemic is no big deal.

Abe better be sure the worst is over. I think the worry over the Olympics is causing serious decision making problems among the political class in Japan.

Tokyo-Sapporo 2021.

Strange to state the obvious but the olympics are not some sort of meeting that can be pushed forward on a whim. The logistics are mind boggling. It would also disrupt other sporting events planned out over the course of the next years. Face it. It's cancelled. Just hasn't sunk into the incompetent ldp heads yet.

Abe, offer free testing, free foods, free hospitals, free medicines to all, as China communist party did to Chinese, no other choices, no other options, you have to serve people first.

They also locked up experts who tried to warn the rest of the world about the virus.

They are dictators, not communists.

Somehow, Japanese population has very different response curve than other populations. I have a theory about it, and it isn't fictional.

Thanks but no thanks.

The Games will be cancelled within the fortnight. That's my prediction. I hope I'm wrong.

What is your basis to call it Wuhan virus ?

It started in Wuhan.

Not that this is Chinese people's fault though. That idea is just stupid.

Oh you fool. Utter clueless fool.

@Caliboy

What is your point? Japanese people can be infected overseas, but not in Japan?

every other country in the world has an exponential infection rate. Only Japan has a linear one. Not possible.

And Japan had so many visitors from China. Now people are saying it might be because the Japanese are hygienic and wash their hands more. What a crock!

where’s the IMPORTANT journalism (total number of new cases per prefecture day by day, age and gender info of cases, specific locations of cases within prefectures, timely information of places being disinfected, photos of places being disinfected etc.)?

Unfortunately the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's site is a sad joke.

This site is not a bad place to start:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jfB4muWkzKTR0daklmf8D5F0UfIYAgcx-Ij9McClQ/edit#gid=0

@gokai_wo_maneku

I don't get it.

First off, the more relevant and concerning statistic is the serious complication rate of 15-20%. This means 15-20% require a hospital bed. Around 5% require an ICU bed. If too many people get infected at once, there is not enough beds to go around and treatment outcomes worsen. The 2% stat is actually meaningless. It's not set in stone. It changes based on actions taken. If managed well, the fatality rate is likely far lower than 2%. If managed poorly, it is higher.

COVID-19′s expansion follows a pattern of diseases seen for centuries: It is the newest member of a viral family beginning with influenza, which crossed over to humans around 2500 BC when poultry was first domesticated in China. By 400 BC, it had become sufficiently widespread that Hippocrates described it in his "Epidemics".

In the 1700s, recurrent yellow fever epidemics arrived. This didn’t just threaten trade, but the very existence of the nascent United States. In 1793, Philadelphia lost 5,000 people – roughly 10 per cent of its population – in a few weeks. “Why should cities be erected,” asked Noah Webster, the lexicographer seen as the father of American scholarship, “if they are only to be the tombs of men?”

Between 1951 and 1953, the last poliomyelitis pandemic spread around the world. There was no cure, and because its primary target was young adults, schools and playgrounds were closed in many areas. Affected homes were quarantined with notices posted on their doors. Public meetings were banned or discouraged. In some places, gymnasiums were transformed into hospital wards to treat the dangerously ill.

As ever public concern is divided between a new microbe’s health effects and the resulting effect on a national or regional economy.

It’s a new virus, a new disease, but it’s the same old tune. We just have not heard it for a while.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-the-coronavirus-has-sparked-panic-and-quarantine-but-it-was-ever-thus/

I am trying to understand the reason for the gap between what PRC testing the japanese govt said was possible which is 6,000 per day versus the actual testing count observed, which is way, way lower than capable (see https://gis.jag-japan.com/covid19jp/). For example, as of 3/14, the actual tests conducted were only 859. Although the govt only tested approx 100+ daily from 2/16 to 3/02, finally ramped up testing on 3/03 to almost 3000+, you can still observe that testing is only less than 1,000+ daily since 3/03.

Is that gap existing because the Abe adminstration is incapable of assessing what the govt hokenjo is capable of testing on a daily basis? or is there something sinister going on to keep the testing numbers low? I understand these hokenjo are still using screening criteria such as whether the person was in Wuhan or knows of anyone who traveled to Wuhan or traveled overseas. i can understand that they are trying to prevent hospitals from buckling in case there are more patients, in fact, yes, govt must protect its health care professionals but it isnt helping if people with suspected infections move from hospital to hospital exposing health care professionals because their fever, cough persists. I suspect that Abe wants to keep the numbers low so that they can hold the olympics. Any opinions?

The Olympic torch relay is scheduled to start in Fukushima on March 26. Surely a decision has to be made before then. It is supposed to go through every prefecture. It would be ridiculous to stop the relay halfway through and repeat the whole thing again next year.

I support postponing, rather than canceling, the Olympics by a year. There would be countless problems involved, of course, but it could be done.

Eugene Shapiro, MD, Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health: “Without more widespread testing, our understanding of the clinical epidemiology of this infection is greatly impaired.”

Amesh A. Adalja, MD, Professor and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security whose work is focused on emerging infectious disease, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity. “Testing capacity has us largely flying blind, not knowing where cases are and hampering response efforts.”

Why is the COVID-19 testing so limited in Japan?

As I said before  IF abe declares a National Emergency then the GAMES on done FINISHED!

So, what he is now doing(because like many ldp before him the DO NOT care about their PEOPLE) is letting the virus play out, minimize testing to fudge the numbers.

Bottom line is the only way abe will pull the trigger on this is if the virus gets so bad even HE knows the Olympics are toast, then he might go the National Emergency route.

He clearly doesnt give a damn about the average Tanaka on the street!

Same ole same ole...….been this way forever here

Eugene Shapiro, MD, Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health: “Without more widespread testing, our understanding of the clinical epidemiology of this infection is greatly impaired.”

Abe and the Japanese government have held back on testing for some reason; what that reason is unclear, but in a country that tests everything, people are doubtful about the motivations behind the comparative lack of testing.

It'll be so funny when they have to cancel. Abe is beyond ridiculous

I saw on the news last night that the Moomin park in Saitama Prefecture reopened (they were testing everyone before admitting them) and that Okinawa is going vent with events his week. That is really pleasing news. Businesses need to reopen and people want to go out and have fun, so I hope more places will decide to reopen as soon as possible.

By the way, does anyone know why cinemas have remained open during the last few weeks, while other places where big groups of people gather were closed?

Japan has already failed the pop quiz on the Diamond Princess. Now they face failing the real test. This is a cultural moral that keeps dissent at bay while important issues are glossed over.

Japan should ban all unnecessary travel abroad. It should require all those coming to Japan to be tested before they can leave the airport. It should ban all unnecessary travel out of one's area in Japan unless tested first. Only shipping, delivery and grocery stores should be open. They need to go hard on this if they want to beat it.

Better to restrict people's rights than people's lifes....

Let's begin with the obvious. The people of Japan have been in an emergency mode for some time. Note the masks and empty shelves and that shopping has slumped. The health minister has warn us to avoid crowds and crowded places. Less people are traveling. Coughs on trains have started fights. We do not need Abe to declare a state of emergency. The people already know it.

"Japan 6.4." from above. We cannot altogether trust this figure. Also, we do not know if the virus will increase in strength as the weather becomes warmer. Even if not, the influx of Olympic visitors could swell the number of infected people.

Abe has thrown caution to the wind and the results could be serious.

Canceling the Olympic would be the only good thing out of this pandemic disaster. Its time to save Japan from over tourism

The media are going to make this a headline story every day until he declares the emergency and IOC declare the 2020 Olympics postponed or cancelled. Which inevitably will happen but not yet.

HBJ

Japan is providing data but you have to go all over the place to get it. As pointed before, you can use :

https://covid19japan.com/ for a quick over view.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jfB4muWkzKTR0daklmf8D5F0UfIYAgcx-Ij9McClQ/htmlview?sle=true for a more detailed one, you have link for the article.

https://www.coromap.info/ for the individual case including know travel history.

If you have something about put together official data by someone else than yourself :

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/coronavirus/ if you are fine with NHK doing it.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/houdou_list_202003.html from the Ministry of health

Look for this kind of daily link : 新型コロナウイルス感染症の現在の状況について for the global overview

Look for this kind of link : 新型コロナウイルスに関連した患者等の発生について for detailed case

Then you can also go for your prefecture, after I do not know the quality of it, I guess it depend.

For example, I think Osaka is doing good : http://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/iryo/osakakansensho/corona.html

===========

Regarding the games, I think IOC and Japan are kind of playing the first which will back out as this is most likely the one which will lose the most. If Japan back out, it most likely loose the game for good and perhaps have to compensate IOC and so on. If IOC back out, it most likely will be the one which will have to compensate Japan (should be able to limit compensation by offering to postpone) and so on. I think what is needed is countries to bail out of the game for this year, this way everyone should be able to come to a agreement regarding a non compensated postponement which seems the better financially than cancellation. After, if you want to take in account all the other economic trouble why not going a bit crazy : make 2020 24months long.

==============

The country's virus testing capacity will increase to 8,000 a day by the end of the month, making it possible to find potential clusters more easily.

No matter how many tests once is able to do a day if they are not used to detected new cases, I do not see the point. If they are short on test, is testing identified infected thus isolated people to see if they do not test positive anymore more important testing potentially unidentified non-isolated infected people ?

Moreover taking in account the fact that the more vulnerable doesn't seem to display fever so often : https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/2019-ncov-e/2484-idsc/9473-2019-ncov-08-e-2.html

@Reckless,

I agree,all of the outdoors spots are jam-packed.

I have just got back from cycling and the lower reaches of the Edogawa were full to the brim.

I guess people are thinking outdoors is safe and cheaper/free.

Great weather today.

TBH,it is nice to see young families out and about together rather than mainly seniors who appear to be staying at home much more and understandably so.

Blaming the media and then posting unverified statements about the virus.

Hmmm.

Conspiracy theories only serve to exacerbate the uncertainty.

Nothing to see here. Move along.

https://youtu.be/aKnX5wci404?t=41

The reason so few people are tested is people dont want the stigma.

Its understandable most people with mild symptoms dont go to the hospital.

Likewise the fear of infecting coworkers, customers or boss means people who can are staying home thus helping containing the spread.

Example scenario - foreign spectators athletes and staff planning to attend the Olympics will have to go through all the hassles and risks to leave their country, fly 10-15 hours breathing recycled in-flight air that carries who knows what germs, arrive in Japan where they encounter many more risks - ride in trains or buses breathe recycled air again, check in at hotel or air BNB, eat at restaurants where others may be contaminated, encounter millions of others attending the event. Let's say on day 2 some come down with symptoms and go to a hospital. Hospitals do not test but recommend testing elsewhere and that process takes time and is very difficult - case in point I am 68 have been here since 1970's, on Japanese health insurance plan, have atherosclerosis, bypasses, strokes, CKD have been under doctor care weekly since 2010. Was hospitalized a week with renal failure in Nov. since being discharged have had heavy bronchial condition I believe I picked up in the hospital. I reported all this to my doctors during examinations but because I don't have a fever I can't get tested! What if our foreign visitors get tested and the results are positive. They will be quarantined for undetermined period of time away from work family home country and won't be permitted to leave Japan for xx period of time. Who's gonna risk and pay for all of that?

Now people are saying it might be because the Japanese are hygienic and wash their hands more. What a crock!

I don't think Japanese wash their hands more than other people. They do avoid eating with their hands, licking their fingers, and biting their fingernails, though.

First lost is better than the last one.

Conspiracy theories only serve to exacerbate the uncertainty.

How is any of this a conspiracy theory? Fear mongers in the media on online are always going to be to blame for the public hysteria. It doesn’t help when clueless people start claiming a conspiracy.

How is any of this a conspiracy theory? Fear mongers in the media on online are always going to be to blame for the public hysteria. It doesn’t help when clueless people start claiming a conspiracy.

Did you actually read the posts I was replying to?

Seems quite selfish to me, to raise hopes that the Olympics will continue, even while lots of people are dying in Italy from this. At least wait until the peak starts to decline.

is there a bet on this in japan or elsewhere?

A: Japan is under reporting, the virus is everywhere! Its not safe to go out!

B: In that case, why aren't icu units overflowing?

A: Because most people only have mild symptoms.

B: Okay… So, why to I need to be afraid again?

A:Japan is under reporting, the virus is everywhere! Its not safe to go out!

Oh you fool. Utter clueless fool.

Yeh, Abe is a fool, but Hokkaido governor who allowed festivals frequented by Chinese is a genius. I love the logic people use here.

Instead of calling Abe a fool, why don't you suggest what Abe needs to do and isn't doing?

Of course he isn't going to cancel the Olympics. It's only mid-March! If he canceled such an enormous event and the virus died down, he would really be a fool!!! Someone in the IOC said a while back a decision would probably be made around May. IOC most likely has the final say anyway. Maybe if the media would stop asking the same question repeatedly we wouldn't have to hear this constant Abe bashing, and could focus on something more productive.

 I suspect that Abe wants to keep the numbers low so that they can hold the olympics. Any opinions?

I'm pretty sure Abe is smart enough to realize he can't hide a virus, and even if he could, other major countries are in a state of emergency and it wouldn't matter how Japan is doing. The numbers are low because they aren't wasting resources on every Joe Schmo that has the sniffles, especially when the majority of said Joe Schmo will be wearing a mask and isolating themselves from other people regardless. In fact, the only people out and about are the ones that wouldn't go in for a test anyway.

By the way, does anyone know why cinemas have remained open during the last few weeks, while other places where big groups of people gather were closed?

The reserved seat method of ticket sales in most Japanese cinemas permits creating gaps of empty seats between patrons. The current lower attendance rate probably makes it relatively easy.

The current situation in Japan is not yet qualified as a draconian-type national emergency which I believe shouldn't be imposed easily. The country's death toll, numbers of seriously ill patients and recovery are primary indicators to look at.

Meanwhile an economic slump is fer more devastating and life-threatening (empirically proven), perhaps deserves an national emergency with special rescue programs.

As for the Olympics, a delay seems to become a sensible, realistic scenario. A lot of sporting events including qualifiers are already canceled or re-scheduled (although I think that extra-caution for some types is excessive). Public mood and confidence have run deep down.

@Akie,

I do have a big sympathy for participant top athletes now staying "in limbo." Personally I feel it's ok to go ahead as scheduled, but that's all determined by the IOC, beyond the power of host Japan. A fact is, only five months away is extremely tight for preparation or other logistical issues.

Covid-19 may threaten the century-old Olympics as while, not merely the Tokyo Games.

THEY AREN'T TESTING PEOPLE!

because as the Doctor said:

“We don’t test everybody — we don’t test you if you have no symptoms,” preventive medicine physician Maj. Andrew Fisher said during a U.S. Forces Japan virtual town hall on coronavirus concerns March 2.

“This is a limited resource, so we test the people who it makes sense to test and there’s specific criteria that governs who qualifies to get tested based on who’s most at risk,” said Fisher, who serves as the public health emergency officer at Yokota Air Base.

Let listen to the doctor, shall we?

NHK: Japan sees record daily new COVID-19 cases

Health authorities in Japan reported 63 new cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday -- the highest daily increase yet

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200315_06/

Now people are saying it might be because the Japanese are hygienic and wash their hands more. What a crock!

What makes it a crock?

I think that Japan should host the Olympics, but perhaps in 2021.

"The aren't testing...they aren't testing...they aren't testing."

This mantra has no power, no matter how many times people repeat it. If the outbreak is actually massive, then where is Abe hiding the hospital patients and deaths? The number of people in the hospital in Japan with the Wuhan virus is still very low. Japan has an aged population similar to Italy's. The rate of complications and need for hospitalization should be similar given the demographics. The number of people hospitalized is still very low, which indicates that the overall number of people infected is also comparatively low, which explains why Japan hasn't used as many tests yet. Health officials don't throw away tests on hypochondriacs. Tests only get used if a person is showing symptoms or has definitely been exposed.

If Abe is also hiding hospital patients and deaths, then the conspiracy to deceive Japanese people and the world would have to include millions of people. Hospital workers, care home workers, city officials, prefectural officials...people at every level would have intimate knowledge of what's happening, and all of them would have to be keeping the reality a secret. That's virtually impossible.

Yes, this coronavirus is here in Japan, and it's spreading. But whatever Japanese people are doing, it seems to be slowing the spread so far. Unlike Italy, Japan's hospitals aren't at risk of overflowing in the next two weeks. Japan isn't begging neighbors for supplies. I can look around my city and see that there aren't yet people hacking, wheezing, and falling over dead. The low number of tests administered seems to be a point of anxiety for many people, but in context of all the other data we can see, it shouldn't be.

mikeylikesit said "The number of people in the hospital in Japan with the Wuhan virus is still very low. "

What is your basis to call it Wuhan virus ? Japan still hasn't identify the source of the virus, and there are clear cases that the victims never contact people from China.

There are over 100 different Covid-19 from all over the world, the virus found in Wuhan isn't the oldest form, there are many others in different places of the planet.

As far as science goes, the virus already was found or discovered in 1963, by UK. Would you call it UK virus ? Of course not, unless you just want to express your freedom.

Im not surprised at all that Japan seemingly has the lowest rate of infection. Same way I wasn't surprised when it just exploded in Italy. Social distancing apparently is really a major factor.

Abe still has time to save the Olympics. China has test kit, only take 8 minutes to show the result. Japan should start screening at least in Tokyo area.

It is very important to show the result, based on scientific data, to regain the confidence.

noriahojanen, perhaps delay isn't as simple as you thought. The athletes have their own schedules, their bodies have trained to July 2020 at least 5 years ago. The cost will be huge for the talents.

The ‘over reaction’ is necessary to ‘flatten the curve’. This means slowing down the spread of the virus which is important to take the strain off hospitals and health care providers.

Which is exactly why Abe passed a new law and will use it if necessary. Japan just hasn't gotten to that point yet.

If people don’t understand the serious implications of the threat, then they won’t change their behaviour accordingly. 

They do, and they have. In fact, events and schools have been canceled way before Abe had any power to enforce it. For better or for worse, Japanese people fall in line. In this case, it is for the better.

OssanAmerica, if IOC makes decision for Japan, then it has to be liable for the cost.

Next 30 days are very important for Japan. As long as we can hang up to the low 2000 number, we will win.

Long Live Japan.

Abe, offer free testing, free foods, free hospitals, free medicines to all, as China communist party did to Chinese, no other choices, no other options, you have to serve people first.

Otherwise, the Olympics is no more.

@Tokioguy

Korea is testing at 10K tests a day, while Japan has only conducted about 12K testing in the past two months! It's a very simple equation, if Japan opens up the floodgates as other countries have done and tests the population.

Such "Korea-model" has failed to save many lives while it may help relieve some stress of individuals. Both Korea's total death toll and critical patients number still remain high along with another terrible case in Italy which also had conducted in vain similar type of random testing. UK and Nordic countries are not adopting the Korea-model. In re-course, Germany and France have limited a number of testing to "critical members of the public".

Sure, one can still defend that no direct link between active testing and casualty has yet to prove. If Korea is really successful, how come the total 131 countries including have imposed travel restrictions on the country?Consequences are almost everything for politics.

@mikeylikesit

Thanks for a good, sensible post. You will probably get more downvotes than upvotes because conspiracy theories always win over facts and logic here on JT. It's always good to know there are some reasonable posters, though. It's also good to know Japan is not wasting it's resources testing everyone with mild or no symptoms, and is instead using common sense to curb the spread of the virus.

Health authorities in Japan reported 63 new cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday

and Korea reported 76 new cases

the US reported 100 cases

and you forgot to mention that 40 of new cases are Japanese coming from Europe.

Abe is being realistic.

People who criticise the way he is going about the day job.

Need to get a life.Coronavirus is not a new thing.

It has been around for years, America had a pandemic in the 60s or the 80s.

The problem is the media, and the public panic buying causing panic in the old people

you should be playing this down, The younger healthier people should be doing the shopping for older

members of the public. who have respiratory problems. they are the ones who are at risk.

People who rush into supermarkets, and simply buy up everything they see are plain and simple fools.

America had a pandemic of Coronavirus in the 60s or 80s

Cuba found a cure for this virus, it has been said America refuses to lift the sanctions on Cuba.

That would allow them to supply countries with the stuff.

Big Pharma in America are behind this, they are like the mafia.

They had a doctor of medicine killed because he could totally reverse Autism,

He had a cure for Diabetes and cancer. that would not go down well with big pharma.

Time for some good news:

Nine Indonesian with COVID-19 in Japan have recovered, says foreign minister

Nine of them tested positive for COVID-19 during the quarantine.

“All of the nine [crew members] have now [tested] negative and been declared healed,” Retno said on Friday.

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/14/nine-indonesian-with-covid-19-in-japan-have-recovered-says-foreign-minister.html

noriahojanen said "Covid-19 may threaten the century-old Olympics as while, not merely the Tokyo Games."

Very interesting thought nobody thought about it but the smart guy above. It could be true, doesn't against Newton's law.

"Limited testing"

because as the Doctor said:

“We don’t test everybody — we don’t test you if you have no symptoms,” preventive medicine physician Maj. Andrew Fisher said during a U.S. Forces Japan virtual town hall on coronavirus concerns March 2.

“This is a limited resource, so we test the people who it makes sense to test and there’s specific criteria that governs who qualifies to get tested based on who’s most at risk,” said Fisher, who serves as the public health emergency officer at Yokota Air Base.

I will follow Dr Fisher's advice. Perhaps Japan's critics should do the same.

Back to you.

I don't get it. Only 2% of the patients die (elderly and people with pre-existing conditions). Most people who get the virus have no or only mild symptoms. Why is there such a huge over reaction to this?

Caliboy, it is indeed that Japan has low cases, not downward trend. Somehow, Japanese population has very different response curve than other populations. I have a theory about it, and it isn't fictional.

Total Covid 19 cases by country as of March 15th

1)China 80,824

2)Italy 21,157

3)Iran 12,729

4)S. Korea 8,086

5)Spain 6,391

6)Germany 4,599

7)France 4,469

8)USA 2,836

9)Switzerland 1,375

10)UK 1,140

11)Norway 1,108

12)Sweden 961

13)Netherlands 959

14Denmark 827

15) Japan 804

Japan continues its downward trend. Good Job! That what gives,