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Abe says Japan at crucial stage for lifting of state of emergency

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Well it’s good that most people are apparently abiding by the request, considering the 60 and 70% Reductions in peoples movements on the weekdays and weekends. It shows that while not everyone is doing it obviously, it is definitely making a big difference.

Yes obviously it would’ve made a bigger difference to make it mandatory, and those numbers would be where they should be, but at least it shows that not all is lost regarding Abe’s handling of the situation.

-2 ( +10 / -12 )

Forget about it! We’re in it for the long run. The “critical stage” has long ago come and gone and you missed it, Abe. You, not us.

22 ( +32 / -10 )

A government expert panel recommended Wednesday that people do non-urgent shopping, consult doctors and hold business meetings as well as drinking parties online to attain the 80 percent cut in human contact.

What does drinking parties online mean?

1 ( +10 / -9 )

> The governors of Tokyo and Osaka are planning to ask supermarkets to limit the number of shoppers allowed to enter at a time.

It is too late to ask anything - supermarkets need to be doing this right now!

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Pls don’t call this emergency or lockdown ... government is not even using army or

police to ensure strict measures!!! Look at some other countries like India .. if you come out they use drones and put fine on you or use police power and assault you in-case you are going out of house unnecessarily...

BTW why Japanese can’t stay at home ?

7 ( +18 / -11 )

"We are planning to set rules as soon as possible to reduce the 3 Cs," Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told a press conference, referring to confined spaces, crowded places and close contact

Next to impossible here in Japan where confined spaces, crowded places and close contact are the norm!

Set rules, shut down the commuter trains for a week or two. Instantly eliminate one of the worst places for the virus to spread!

10 ( +20 / -10 )

It is too late to ask anything - supermarkets need to be doing this right now!

Dont know much about the country here do you?

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

Abe can “request, consider, suggest, advise, recommend, ask, tell, and/or plead” with the people of Japan all he wants. It’s all about the money. If the people of Japan really want to be “the country that dodged the bullet” they’ll need to close the places tourist go and/or refuse out of town number plates from entering their parking lots. Close down expressways to all non essential traffic. Open only to lifeline traffic. Get those lazy police sitting in police boxes to get out and do some traffic control and don’t let non essential people cross boarders.

Basically, we are in a time of a life or death situation, not just talking about the China virus, also about the lose of life due to lose of homes, money for food, and other daily life necessities? We need to accept flexibility in the laws. The longer the country stays in a state of emergency, the most mental, physical and financial damage it does to everyone living paycheck to paycheck. The thing that scares me is that the people who don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck are the ones making the decisions (not making decisions).

my car has been parked for 3 weeks, my home is looking better, all that scrap wood has become nice deck furniture and other small projects, jogging (alone) is helping me, at my old age, breathe easier. I do live month to month but also not spending money like I used to. I will, however, say that I am lucky enough to have a company that I can do online. Staying within one kilometer of my home for a month has not killed me and I’m sure I can go another month or two if it helps get the country up and going sooner.

14 ( +20 / -6 )

Crucial stage of what? Not doing much of anything?

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Open or close I'm ok but, where's my money? Waiting, waiting, waiting.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

@Yubaru very good point about the commuter trains. But one thing though, what about the people who have to use the trains for work?

12 ( +13 / -1 )

How about saying we will have a golden week but it will be postponed until say September or October, that would help motivate people to wait and stay where they are no? Too logical?

18 ( +21 / -3 )

KenToday 06:52 am JST

What does drinking parties online mean?

You're forced to stay connected on zoom with your boss after the work dayand must grab a beer from the fridge.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

WobotToday 07:24 am JST

I follow a foreign consultant on twitter and she got mobbed by Japanese people denouncing her advocating for more pcr testing...

The reason? The countries that are doing the most testing have the highest death rate, so if you don't test it will be lower apparently... My palm went through my face and out the back of my head!

I read her twitter, too. Creepy and disturbing stuff. The people attacking her are nettoyo; xenophobic, anti-science, sociopathic morons. Isn't it strange how the far right is the same all over the world!

17 ( +22 / -5 )

One thing people need to stop doing is going to the supermarket EVERY DAY! And stop going as a family. Two trips a week to the supermarket is enough. And only one member per group/family should be aloud in (with the exception of small children).

I and my wife each go once a week (separately), and we can’t believe how many more people have been there recently. And they’re not buying a lot - most people I see are queued up to pay with a basket that’s maybe half full.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

allowed in

(stupid auto-correct)

3 ( +4 / -1 )

in the photo that's not enough social distancing. Should be about 2m, so the middle guy should be where the third one is.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Around here, Pachinko parlors, Game Centers, Karaoke bars, and Anime brain! stores and even Mcdonalds are all open normal schedules, only Starbucks has altered it's business hours to close early. People are coming from other prefectures to play and have a good time like they know nothing about the virus.

The locals are having a fit but not a damn thing they can do without Mr. Abe and his CLOWNS ordering all NON essential businesses to close.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

if you can stretch out your arm and touch the person in front of you, you're too close. That whole line needs to be spaced back by an extra arm length each.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

It seems too early to be lifted. No doubt govt would not do it on 7th May.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

@Yubaru very good point about the commuter trains. But one thing though, what about the people who have to use the trains for work?

Great question. However, it's rather obvious to me that there are many in the Tokyo metropolitan area that do not need to be going to work to push paper around either.

If there is a will, there is a way, problem is, no will.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

Most of the comments here put the blame on Prime Minister Abe. Probably you’re more expert than Mr Abe...so what can you do to contain the virus??? Please share your thoughts!!!

-16 ( +3 / -19 )

How is a "mandatory" lockdown going to be enforced?

There is no "mandatory" lockdown! If you have been following along here, as you typically do, you would already know that what you are asking is only a rhetorical question.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

I have a very hard time believing that the restrictions will be lifted after GW. There have been some improvements in social distancing in my area but the pachinko down the street has hundreds of cars from out of town in the parking lot each day. Municipalities should come up with creative ways to shut these places down. Maybe they should start construction on the roads just in front of the entrance or something.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

But Japan confirmed about 450 new cases on Wednesday, showing no signs of a downtrend.

Out of how many tested? What's Japan's testing capacity during the same period? These should be a critical questions from the media

15 ( +15 / -0 )

@Yubaru very good point about the commuter trains. But one thing though, what about the people who have to use the trains for work?

Great question. However, it's rather obvious to me that there are many in the Tokyo metropolitan area that do not need to be going to work to push paper around either.

If there is a will, there is a way, problem is, no will.

If one looks at the live cams, you can see shoppers out there going about their merry way like there is no crisis nor concerns, just shopping is important and they are not carry groceries which is pretty evident in the cams.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

even Mcdonalds are all open normal schedules, 

Take a closer look at Mac. There have been numerous announcements over the past few days that they are no longer allowing people to eat inside their restaurants and are open for take out and drive through service only.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Great social distancing photo accompanying this article! Reduction of people contact from 70 - 80% is too abstract, people can't relate. The news shows images of Shibuya with a reduction but other areas are business as usual. People have not been properly educated and don't know why they shouldn't move. They probably don't even know why the masks are important. As an analogy, people will say they got the flu shot so they're not worried, they can't contract influenza, hence, I wear a mask so I'm good. Anyways, back to my point; I heard on TV from a medical expert that Wuhan was successful from 75 - 80% reduction of human to human contact. That is how it needs to be explained and that is the formidable task that is at hand.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

One thing people need to stop doing is going to the supermarket EVERY DAY! 

Most people go to supermarket for family every day is their long time way of life. They don't want to keep a lot of food in very small house/apartment. They may need another fridge and closet to keep a lot of food. They don't want to keep such things at front door/living room/bed room.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

I am working in a japanese company with around 300 japanese Co-workers in one small and tiny office. Everybody have to use the morning rush hour full packed trains every day. Many of my colleagues are still going to drink after work. This situation goes on since the virus is known from late december last year when the virus was known for the first time.

And you know what? Nobody at my office is or was infected! Nobody of these 300 people shows any symptoms or went sick since the last 4 months.

Many posters here said from the beginning of the Corona Situation, wait for another 2 weeks to see the full impact. After 2 weeks nothing happened they said it again and again....

I wait, but nothing happend at my office! (Thanks God). Many people will say, it is just luck. Yes probably right, but probably the japanese way of prevention is a good way.

Telework is not conducted in my company. But everybody have to wear a mask, all windows are open and the air is changed inside the office, everywhere are hand sanitizers. And the lunch time hours changed, so that the Cantine is now almost 80 % empty. And people have to sit with a distance in the Cantine. No person is allowed to sit in front of other persons.

I also had a paranoia about this virus, but currently when I see the situation at my work, I start to change my mind.

Like I said: Probably the japanese way is a good way. Not as worse as many people mentioned here.

-1 ( +13 / -14 )

Huh???

He's only just implemented a state of emergency and is now looking to lift it 'as soon as possible'???

It all seems too hard for Japan, this. Sluggish, reticent, inflexible, indecisive.

Why not just say; 'Yappari, dekinai. We are putting the economic health of the country first, so expect to the the population bell curve to move significantly to the left in the next 12-28 months. As you were. As you like.'

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Abe says a lot, inifectual as always too late too little. Pretty sure putting pants on is a difficult problem for him.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

If you want facts around how badly Japan is adhering to restrictions on movement etc, have a look at the Google Mobility reports. This is hard data based on anonymized mobility data from Android cellphones.

https://www.gstatic.com/covid19/mobility/2020-04-11_JP_Mobility_Report_en.pdf

then compare it to a country that HAS been successful in controlling the spread of Covid-19

https://www.gstatic.com/covid19/mobility/2020-04-11_NZ_Mobility_Report_en.pdf

Japan simply isn't doing what it needs to do to get this under control.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

I live literally 30m from the border of one prefecture and 800m from another. Policing borders would take some manpower. Perhaps that's why there are so many helicopters flying over recently.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

As an analogy, people will say they got the flu shot so they're not worried, they can't contract influenza, hence, I wear a mask so I'm good. 

Totally agree. I never have had a flu shot in my life. First time I got influenza in japan was around February this year. It was seasonal influenza and only lasted 5 days. But many Japanese people I know have had flu shots and still got it every year. My analysis is they believed they were immune so took silly risks.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I see that Abe is following the Trump way of handling this pandemic:

1) offer cash to the people, to distract them from the true nature of the crisis

2) blame China

3) blame the Constitution ("we're not allowed to enforce....")

up next perhaps:

4) blame the local jurisdictions (as Trump has blamed the state governors, "they should've been prepared")

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Why don't these idiots listen to actual experts... this is just a page out of Trump's playbook, blame someone else for the economy.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Critical stage was three months ago....

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Maybe they should start construction on the roads just in front of the entrance or something.

Interesting idea, but with the way things work here those parlors would be able to get compensation from the government for obstruction of their business.

They could on the other hand send out news crews, at opening times, when there are tons of folks lined up to get in and interview them, and make sure it gets broadcast locally.

Social pressure does work here, particularly if it hits close to home!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@wombat/anyone who knows.

who is the  foreign consultant You mention pls

5 ( +5 / -0 )

There was a report on BBC news today, from inside a hospital in Kanagawa and with an infectious disease expert in Kobe, showing how Japan is sleepwalking into a disaster. Go and find it. Abe is not doing enough. As the Kanagawa doctor said, people in Japan are not taking this virus seriously.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

@luddite

link it or don’t mention it please.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

yeah @wombat who is she ? please share .. wonder what her arguments and points of observations she has

i think more testing will hurt japan more the less testing.

28% of japan is 65+ , japan has allowed using avigan if the patients opt for it. i sincerely doubt too many people will die if the hospitals are accessible for the people that really need treatment.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Abe is sounding like his counterpart across the Pacific more and more. He just instituted the emergency order a bit more than a week ago and already he's talking about lifting it?? Nuts!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@Luddite, Nagoya was shipping Covid patients out to neighboring prefectures over a month ago:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-challenges-idUSKBN2130JR

...and in that month's time, what has the government done? Sent out two ill-fitting dirty masks and Y100,000 (along with the list of excuses that I posted earlier).

10 ( +11 / -1 )

people in Japan are not taking this virus seriously

Yup. Case in point the individual in the comments going on about the 'japanese approach to handling the virus' SMH

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@Kobe White Bar Owner. I saw it on BBC World News, therefore no link. And stop telling me what I can and can’t post.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

How exactly poverty will reduce the potential for human-to-human transmission ?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

mariasjapanToday 08:15 am JST

Most of the comments here put the blame on Prime Minister Abe. Probably you’re more expert than Mr Abe...so what can you do to contain the virus??? Please share your thoughts!!!

well, you are right, all comments here are hysterical such as Tokyo is becoming the new NYC and Japan will have more deaths than Italy.

Nothing of that will happen, the virus is NOT spreading in Tokyo even if we consider it started from March 25 (which is NOT TRUE considering corona virus in Japan arrived in late January)

Get used to it, if you read comments here seems like we are all screwed up and world will end in a couple of days, luckly the virus didn't spread in Japan for many reasons (no handshakes, masks often used by citizens, no shoes inside home) and it's just as a seasonal flu.

now undervote me, the more you do the more it means i'm right (and day after day seems like i am right cause no exponential infection all over the country)

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Decrease in movements by 60%?? Unfortunately not in my area of Osaka. Trains about 70% of normal commuters. At work, 90% of people show up. And this week my paid holidays will run out. So back to work 5 times a week, or take further days off with zero pay. Guess I'll be working!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

MontyToday 08:32 am JST

I am working in a japanese company with around 300 japanese Co-workers in one small and tiny office. Everybody have to use the morning rush hour full packed trains every day. Many of my colleagues are still going to drink after work. This situation goes on since the virus is known from late december last year when the virus was known for the first time.

And you know what? Nobody at my office is or was infected! Nobody of these 300 people shows any symptoms or went sick since the last 4 months.

Many posters here said from the beginning of the Corona Situation, wait for another 2 weeks to see the full impact. After 2 weeks nothing happened they said it again and again....

I wait, but nothing happend at my office! (Thanks God). Many people will say, it is just luck. Yes probably right, but probably the japanese way of prevention is a good way.

Telework is not conducted in my company. But everybody have to wear a mask, all windows are open and the air is changed inside the office, everywhere are hand sanitizers. And the lunch time hours changed, so that the Cantine is now almost 80 % empty. And people have to sit with a distance in the Cantine. No person is allowed to sit in front of other persons.

I also had a paranoia about this virus, but currently when I see the situation at my work, I start to change my mind.

Like I said: Probably the japanese way is a good way. Not as worse as many people mentioned here.

finally someone who says how things are and not "we are all screwed up" comment

how is possible that Japan is the only country which the virus should spread after TWO MONTHS ?

2 weeks ago "Tokyo will be the next NYC" and actually contagious rate is steadily over 200 people a day, which means the virus is NOT spreading.

i voted you up cause you deserve (and of course your comment was massively undervoted cause it's not a typical hysteric one)

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

since1981Today 07:15 am JST

Abe can “request, consider, suggest, advise, recommend, ask, tell, and/or plead” with the people of Japan all he wants. It’s all about the money. If the people of Japan really want to be “the country that dodged the bullet” they’ll need to close the places tourist go and/or refuse out of town number plates from entering their parking lots. Close down expressways to all non essential traffic. Open only to lifeline traffic. Get those lazy police sitting in police boxes to get out and do some traffic control and don’t let non essential people cross boarders.

Basically, we are in a time of a life or death situation, not just talking about the China virus, also about the lose of life due to lose of homes, money for food, and other daily life necessities? We need to accept flexibility in the laws. The longer the country stays in a state of emergency, the most mental, physical and financial damage it does to everyone living paycheck to paycheck. The thing that scares me is that the people who don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck are the ones making the decisions (not making decisions).

my car has been parked for 3 weeks, my home is looking better, all that scrap wood has become nice deck furniture and other small projects, jogging (alone) is helping me, at my old age, breathe easier. I do live month to month but also not spending money like I used to. I will, however, say that I am lucky enough to have a company that I can do online. Staying within one kilometer of my home for a month has not killed me and I’m sure I can go another month or two if it helps get the country up and going sooner.

it's easy to make a comment like yours when you work from home, when you regularly get your salary, uh?

life is easy, enjoy the lockdown, what about who owns a restaurant and doesn't have an income? or a business tied to tourism ? is that easty in the same way like you ? tsk....

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

i voted you up cause you deserve (and of course your comment was massively undervoted cause it's not a typical hysteric one)

Why does any adult care whether or not people vote a post up or down? If you are looking for a support group, this isnt the place!

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I cannot blame the commuters or shoppers in this country for not grasping just how serious this situation is. The example given to them by their so called J Gov is pathetic/irresponsible.

I once watched a lady in Sapporo waiting for traffic lights to change. The small side road she wanted to cross was closed to traffic because of road works, but still she waited for the green light !

So Abe san pay their wages to stay at home for a month or two

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think the crucial time was when the cruise was docked in Yokohama and when toilet paper started not being on the shelves anymore. Or when Ueno park was packed during the Hanami. Seeing what was going on in China. Then seeing what was going on in S. Korea. That was the crucial time to act and get ready. But nope. Japan's fine, you guys can come to the Olympics.

Someone asked what do you recommend Abe to do. I think don't what S. Korea has been doing would be awesome. Giving out masks (not those tiny square patches that don't fit), disinfecting areas, carrying infected patients in enclosed beds. Testing, testing, testing. Asking people to work from home but then only urging? Just like the government "urging" companies to improve their black companies behaviors.

Here in my city one ALT was infected with the virus last week. She went to the hospital once, the doctor said she had a cold. She went to the hospital a second time, the doctor said it was just the flu. She went to the doctor a third time, oh let's test for Covid19 and.... it's positive. By the way, where have you (the ALT) been all these days? She was still going to her ES's. Proof that people including doctors are still not taking this serious. This one may not be entirely Abe's fault but still.

Crucial time now? Mmm, I hate being negative. But I don't think things will magically improve by May 6th. That crucial window is gone. This will be a long term thing.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

if my comments are so stupid, can you explain to me why after TWO MONTHS in Tokyo they have less than 200 daily cases ?

Take a look at the testing numbers from around the world. Tests per million people , Japan has tested roughly 130,000 people or about 1,000 tests per million people, and with roughly 11,000 people who have tested positive, you are looking at roughly 8% to 10% infection rate.

Look at South Korea, they have tested over 500,000 people, with at a little over 11,000 tests per million, and a little over 10,000 people who tested positive.

Do the math!

You dont test, you keep numbers down, BUT you have, in all probablitity, literally thousands of people, if not tens-of-thousands of people, who are actually positive, spreading the virus all over the place, (hence the authorities not being able to track the route of where people who tested positive came in contact with it) making things worse, on a daily basis!

9 ( +12 / -3 )

@mariasjapan

many people commenting on here have 1 attribute that Abe clearly is lacking - common sense.

you give leadership in Feb not Apr

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Dr. Theopolis,

My advice to you: if you go back to work next week, don't get paranoid of the Virus just if you see somebody coughing or sneezing. Wear a mask, wash your hands and use that hand analyzer regular, and also ask your boss to open the windows at the office. 

Tokyo and other big cities are same. Trains are at least 70% packed.

In my home country in Europe, people stay at home and get money support from the government and from the companies. A big monthly money support. Then it is easy to say, "Go for a Lockdown" or "Stay at home".

But this kind of money support doesn't exist in Japan.

People like you and me (who are not born rich), have to work to pay the bills.

My home country in Europe is under a very very hard Lockdown since more than 1 month. And you know what are the news today? Cases increased again! Even there is that very tough lockdown since 1 month, cases increased!. So does this kind of Lockdown, which everybody is screaming for, prevents anything??? I am not sure...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The number of cases in Tokyo remain under 200 daily because of the lack of testing. Surely anyone can understand if you limit testing you can only find a limited number of cases. Obviously this does not mean there are no more cases and there is ample evidence there are more such as the recent story of someone dying in the street, and the fact that the source of infection of over half of those daily 200 can NOT be traced which means they got it from someone else with the virus out in the community.

Meanwhile the nth time Abe says we are approaching the "critical" time whilst not changing the testing policy nor providing real economic help for people to stay home. No one is listening and we have already well and truly passed that time anyhow. Japan might as well adopt the same policy as Sweden and just go for the herd immunity, whatever the cost, because in effect that is what is happening in Japan anyhow. I would not be surprised to see the emergency cancelled in May despite the daily increase in cases and deaths.

It would be better to have a clear plan than the directionless mixed messages that is happening now.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

started missing @rimno .. not enough trivial statements.. thanks @anon999999 ..

What will you do when you find the exact number again ?

Quarantine them ? Test the whole companies they work in ? Test their colleagues families and kindergarten friends families ?

By all means please let us know what Abe should do ?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Some perspective is necessary. First, no one can deny that COVID 19 causes serious illness and death. A few areas of the world have been devastated by it. At the same time, there is massive disruption caused by unemployment and financial loss around the world which also causes many problems.

Second, the reality is that Japan has been spared this devastation thus far, although no one knows the future. Around 3,000 people die each year in Japan from influenza. Only roughly 300 have died from COVID 19 in Japan as of today.

Third, if Japan was really going to have a dramatic increase in COVID 19 cases and deaths, it would have already happened. Millions ride subways and public transportation every day with no major infections as a result. We are learning new things every day, but it has been shown most infections come from people living together or partying together where they have unprotected contact.

To sum up, we need to take sensible precautions, not close down everything and destroy lives and livelihoods in the process.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

What an absolutely pathetic leader... announcing that he's going to wait to say if the emergency will be continued until the day before the end of GW, or thereabouts. Imaging you're a small business owner like a restaurant -- you have no idea if you should order enough food for a full reopening or not because the government cannot commit, or cannot make staff schedules, and staff therefore cannot depend on employment. It's this kind of dithering over things like postponement of the Olympics that caused this to get out of control to being with. And now he's saying it's all up to the people to review their behaviour.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

CognacToday  11:19 am JST

it's easy to make a comment like yours when you work from home, when you regularly get your salary, uh?

life is easy, enjoy the lockdown, what about who owns a restaurant and doesn't have an income? or a business tied to tourism ? is that easty in the same way like you ? tsk....

In reference to your reply to my post; Actually I order from those businesses to do my part to help them survive. We all need to help each other the best we can. Even with my car being parked, I put it in for maintenance, also help them continue to work. Just to name a couple. Everyone who is able to work from home should also do what they can to help their local businesses.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

But Japan confirmed about 450 new cases on Wednesday, showing no signs of a downtrend.

If there were 600 new cases a day ten days ago, 450 a day this week would appear to be a downtrend, or at least a flattening of a curve that is supposed to show doubling every few days. To give a lower number and then say this shows no signs of a downtrend is anti-science.

I think the Japanese government is inept, I really do, but there is no need for deliberately misinterpret the numbers to justify a political opinion. That is very poor journalism.

I hope and expect the measures to stay in place. The precautionary approach is the correct one. Ideally, measures would be tightened in Tokyo, Osaka, etc. and loosened in inaka where very few tests are coming up positive (i.e., more testing there is unnecessary), but that's probably too much to ask or expect. We live in times where people react emotionally about everything, which means subtlety goes out of the window.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I read her twitter, too. Creepy and disturbing stuff. The people attacking her are nettoyo; xenophobic, anti-science, sociopathic morons. Isn't it strange how the far right is the same all over the world!

A feature why LDP Japan is little different from CCP China.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“And you know what? Nobody at my office is or was infected! Nobody of these 300 people shows any symptoms or went sick since the last 4 months.”

You have no way of knowing this because no one has been tested. You may be asymptomatic and be shedding the virus. The only thing you can actually say is “no one in my office has become symptomatic.”

I was at a local Donkey at 14:00 yesterday to get masks (I failed. There were none.) and TP. There were a LOT of people there. I definitely felt uncomfortable. I asked when the best time to go was. “Midnight”. Lesson learned.

I haven’t left the house in a week unless absolutely necessary. It stinks but I do it to protect myself and others as well.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Supermarkets are especially problematic now. I think it is because Japanese are more likely than other countries to have larger refrigerators and are more used to buying daily meals? Seems the market is packed every single day and that people dont really have the ability to "stock up" so they are there every day instead of just once a week.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

more likely to NOT have large refrigerators.....so have to go to store almost daily.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“People's movements have decreased by over 60 percent on weekdays and over 70 percent on weekends in urban areas when compared with the time before the spread of the virus in Japan, according to Abe. movements have decreased by over 60 percent on weekdays and over 70 percent on weekends in urban areas when compared with the time before the spread of the virus in Japan, according to Abe.”

There must be an amazing new ‘population movement tracking software’ that I haven’t yet heard of. Ganbatte Abe-san, only 10 & 20% left to go!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@CDNinJapan ..it is hard to tell if you are being sarcastic but, yes there is plenty of population movement tracking software . easy peasy actually these day "countpeople in_picture" then for frame in video count_people_in_picture" , the rest is counting really and not that amazing .

These numbers I think are very close to reality.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How is a "mandatory" lockdown going to be enforced?

You would have to wear armbands of some kind when you go out...

 so we all know what the numbers would look like with thousands of Tokyoites tested daily

No doubt, more infections. And a death toll that is far less than seasonal flu in Japan.

Still waiting for the huge spike in numbers all the doom and gloomers keep talking about. Might be time to move the goal posts again...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Old people are dying sooner but it is just not reported, I bet 100% on that with all clues read (health system functioning with no autopsy and pneumonia death). Abe does not care because gov would get into bankruptcy otherwise. And less retired costly people means easier economy situation.

I am not for lockdown at all but for protecting the old and following health reinforced measures.

Anyway, lockdown is necessary only if emergencies are overwhelmed. Apparently not the case.

At the same tim, no care homes affected ? No comparison with last death mortality rate ?

No journalist in such places means no problem.

No hard data science check means nothing to report.

All good to go because especially older Japanese must be immune and so clean.

Please read this to understand better and wish no lockdown but protection of the needy (first the elder, secondly people at health risk).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Supermarkets are especially problematic now. I think it is because Japanese are more likely than other countries to have larger refrigerators and are more used to buying daily meals? Seems the market is packed every single day and that people dont really have the ability to "stock up" so they are there every day instead of just once a week.

That’s a problem you can solve very easily. Institute time limits, have the elderly go in the morning for about 1 to 2 hours people that are 65 and older and then after that go to the people that are in their mid-30s to 50s and then the younger people can go in after them, you can break it down into smaller intervals it’s set up to certain specific times and then you won’t have this problem and everyone needs to calculate what they need and how much, if you don’t do that, you will continue to see these stores open and the lockdown won’t mean anything, just might as well open the malls up again if this is the case. It’s really not that hard to solve if you Think about it and strategize it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Yubaru

Japan has tested roughly 130,000 people or about 1,000 tests per million people

They actually tested less people than that. Some people are tested several times. As can be seen for example of the Tokyo website (https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/) where "test conducted" is higher than "people tested".

Speaking of Tokyo, that same website shows how bad testing is there. The total population is above 14 millions, but since the beginning of the outbreak, only 9000 people have been tested. That way less than 1,000 people tested per millions. Which makes Japan one the country with the lowest amount of testing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Stop buses and trains for two weeks too please.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I don’t know what the solution is for a country like Japan as it doesn’t seem to have the appropriate legislation in place to enforce these measures. Or is it really a constitution matter?

Nearly all shops here (Western Australia) have markings on the floor to stand 1.5m apart from each other, perspex screens at the checkouts, large gatherings (sport games, parties etc) banned, probably higher rate of testing and even our state is divided up into smaller sections with travel to regional areas banned.

Im not saying this is the best solution but that as well as no more international and domestic travel (special exemptions may apply for domestic including self quarantine) seems to have slowed the spread. Yes we have the appropriate legislation but it is also and perhaps mostly up to the populace to get on board too.

Ganbatte Japan!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Social distancing ? ..This is not a very good photo to be showing .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well it's official... Abe and the people not taking this virus seriously may be the dumbest people in Japan....

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Like everyone else, all I know is what I read about this virus on the internet, or hear about it on the TV or radio. But, what I have heard is that before herd immunity can be effective, 60% or more of the population needs to be immune, either from a vaccine, or from acquiring antibodies. Just guessing here, but I suspect that no nation on Earth is yet close to having that magical number of 60% of its people immune. If that is true, then removing social distancing rules prematurely will assuredly result in ICUs and morgues being overwhelmed, and many people dying who otherwise would not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Do us a favor, Abe. Let us know when the state of emergency actually begins, so we can mark it on our calendars.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's no time for lifting the state of emergency, the situation is getting worse.

Abe should anounce without any hesitation a  TOTAL LOCKDOWN from April 26th to May 6th.

This is one period of the year that people move a lot in Japan.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

One more thing about masks...I don't know why this isn't being reported on the news everywhere, but helped understand the Abenomask strategy (which I'm a huge critic of).

Droplet spread: 2 meters

Cough: 5 meters

Sneeze: roughly 7 meters.

Masks/face coverings will not protect you, but they DO stop asymptomatic people spreading the virus via droplets.

Demand anyone who wants to talk to you wear a mask, scarf, bandanna, and you should do likewise when meeting people.

This measure combined with a Full enforced 1 month Lock down won't eliminate the threat, but will make it manageable. In my opinion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You can't have a mandatory lockdown in Japan. The government doesn't have the legal power to arrest or fine people.. There can just make strong recommendations.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

One thing people need to stop doing is going to the supermarket EVERY DAY! 

Most people go to supermarket for family every day is their long time way of life. They don't want to keep a lot of food in very small house/apartment. They may need another fridge and closet to keep a lot of food. They don't want to keep such things at front door/living room/bed room.

I agree with you that it’s a habit, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessary. My family of four lives in a 45 square metre apartment with a fridge that’s a bit on the small side, and we’re completely fine with going every 3-4 days for groceries. It’s during times like this that we need to adapt and do things the safe way, even if it’s only for a couple of months.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Masks/face coverings will not protect you

This is not exactly correct. They will not protect you a lot of the time, and will protect you other times. Not being 100% effective does not equate to being 100% ineffective.

but they DO stop asymptomatic people spreading the virus via droplets.

This is correct however. It's socially responsible to wear a mask when outdoors right now.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Wow. What a thread. SARS-CoV-2. There is a study in JAMA, a renowned medical journal, concerning hospitalization rates in New York City for the contagion. Almost 90% had two comorbidities 94% of individuals had comorbidity: primarily, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Median age 63. People placed on ventilators: 88% died. Individuals on ventilators primarily were suffering from diabetes and COVID-19. Predominantly older males. As for masks, surgical masks are 80% efficient at masking the virus. As it has been opined, masks do help prevent the spread of the disease from an infected individual.

Here is something factual to chew on:

As for lock-down: examine the cruise ship: Princess. 712 patients out of 3,711.  567 passengers and 145 crew. Average age was 58, with 1/3 of the passengers 70 years or older. 7 deaths. . Of 634 cases, a total of 313 cases were female and six were aged 0–19 years, 152 were aged 20–59 years and 476 were 60 years and older. Of the 634 confirmed cases, a total of 306 and 328 were reported to be symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. Currently, there is no clear evidence that COVID-19 asymptomatic persons can transmit SARS-CoV-2, but there is accumulating evidence indicating that a substantial fraction of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals are asymptomatic.  Previous work on COVID-19 suggests that the distribution of the delay, D, between infection and onset of symptomatic infection (i.e. the incubation period) follows a Weibull distribution, with a mean and standard deviation at 6.4 and 2.3 days. The posterior median estimate of the true proportion of asymptomatic individuals among the reported asymptomatic cases is 0.35 (95% credible interval (CrI): 0.30–0.39), with the estimated total number of the true asymptomatic cases at 113.3 (95%CrI: 98.2–128.3) and the estimated asymptomatic proportion (among all infected cases) at 17.9% (95%CrI: 15.5–20.2%).  Estimates of the true proportion of asymptomatic individuals among the reported asymptomatic cases are somewhat sensitive to changes in the mean incubation period, ranging from 0.28 (95%CrI: 0.23–0.33) to 0.40 (95%CrI: 0.36–0.44), while the estimated total number of true asymptomatic cases range from 91.9 (95%CrI: 75.2–108.7) to 130.8 (95%CrI: 117.1–144.5) and the estimated asymptomatic proportion ranges from 20.6% (95%CrI: 18.5–22.8%) to 39.9% (95%CrI: 35.7–44.1%). Most of the infections on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship appear to have occurred before or around the start of the 2-week quarantine that started on 5 February 2020, which further highlights the potent transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, especially in confined settings. To further mitigate transmission of COVID-19 and bring the epidemic under control in areas with active transmission, it may be necessary to minimize the number of gatherings in confined settings.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dear Abe

You need to take a "fresh look" at your mismanagement of this situation. Most of the people I know already had sense to start taking precautions and to social distance over a month ago

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Extend the State of Emergency until May 10-Sunday to include the weekends with stricter Policy.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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