Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, speaks to reporters Tuesday at Tsukiji Depot, a facility which houses and manages vehicles related to the Tokyo 2020 Games Photo: AP/Koji Sasahara, Pool
tokyo 2020 olympics

Gov't considers using SDF doctors, nurses at Tokyo Olympics

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The doctors who could be vaccinating people...

61 ( +65 / -4 )

The Gov't can't order normal doctors/nurses to do it..but they can mobilize the Military and instruct them to do it. This is just an all around suicide mission. Sure, expose those those that protect Japan to a super spreader event because why not, right Suga?

41 ( +44 / -3 )

Tokyo Games organizing committee, which has been trying to secure enough medical personnel to ensure the safety of athletes and assisting staff.

What about the safety of the Japanese public? Shouldn't that be the only priority?

42 ( +42 / -0 )

This whole thig is really getting out of hand, use the SDF to help their own before helping the money hungry IOC.

42 ( +42 / -0 )

Marukawa also said about 20,000 vaccines from Pfizer Inc will be provided for free to Japanese athletes competing in the Tokyo Games, as well as some staff members, including interpreters and referees.

That would be enough to vaccinate everyone here in my neighborhood.

Why give it for free and with priority to the athlets?

And the athlets sponsors have enough money to pay their vaccines.

30 ( +35 / -5 )

By considering using the "Self-Defense" Forces, is the government of Japan recognizing that the Olympics are a threat to the nation, which needs to be protected? If so, wouldn't the best strategic move be to cancel the event, rather than battle it?

40 ( +40 / -0 )

Doctors that could be used in Osaka for the Japanese people

38 ( +40 / -2 )

Doubling down again and again...

What shady deals have the Japanese Gov and the IOC cooked up to make the Olympics happen?

29 ( +29 / -0 )

Japan's Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa told a press conference on Tuesday that a plan to use a smartphone app with GPS tracking for games-related foreign visitors has been abandoned due to the development schedule and privacy reasons,

However, anyone else entering Japan from abroad right now (J-citizen, PR, or other resident) must download the GPS tracker and have it active for their 14-day quarantine.

But all those foreign Olympians and IOC staff are exempt, due to concerns about their privacy?

26 ( +26 / -0 )

I would say again that it was truly unfortunate for Japan to have won in 2013 the right to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo. But nobody knew at the time that Covid-19 would spread in the world uncontrollably like a bush fire.

Should the games be cancelled all across the board? That’s a hard decision to make, for anybody. Is the Suga government confident that the pandemic will be under control in less than two months?

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Seiko Hashimoto, president of the organizing committee, told a press conference Friday that as many as 230 doctors and 310 nurses will be needed per day during the games, adding that about 80 percent of the required numbers have been secured.

Wasn't there a propaganda story last week that more doctors then required had applied? What happened there?

Japan's Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa told a press conference on Tuesday that a plan to use a smartphone app with GPS tracking for games-related foreign visitors has been abandoned due to the development schedule and privacy reasons, 

Other countries have been using this type of technology for over a year? How much did the development of Japans failed attempt cost?

Hashimoto also visited a 15-hectare vacant lot where Tokyo's famed Tsukiji fish market used to be located, which will be used as a major transportation hub for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Obviously a place to avoid. Would want to be a driver. Do they have drivers or will they worry about that closer to the games.

All on schedule going well.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Japan's gift to the world. Daily dose of comedy.

35 ( +36 / -1 )

These health care professionals should be used to vaccinate people.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

The transition of Leadership is almost complete!

IOC has the Japanese military under their control now.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

Should the games be cancelled all across the board? That’s a hard decision to make, for anybody.

It's definitely NOT a hard decision if Suga is thinking about the PEOPLE of Japan!

 Is the Suga government confident that the pandemic will be under control in less than two months?

Rhetorical question I am sure, as even the IOC openly stated that if there was a "state of emergency" during the time of the games they would still hold them! Which means that they dont care one way or another if it is "under control"!

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Using SDF doctors and medical staff is the ONLY way they will be able to "order" any one to participate, as the medical association of doctors in Tokyo has already called for the cancellation of the Olympics.

Oh and they got something like 280 DENTISTS and Osteopathic doctors, to sign up, but what good is having a majority of dentists when you have a pulled hamstring!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

What a joke Hashimoto!!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

This is what I have a problem with:

"Gov't considers using SDF doctors, nurses at Tokyo Olympics"

"Gov't considers new cash handout for needy households"

"Gov't to decide Friday on extending state of emergency"

We don't need a government that spends its time considering," that sits in an office and thinks about it. We need ACTION. What is wrong with these guys that they can't make a decision. That's why it's taking so long!

24 ( +25 / -1 )

And here I was thinking Suga saying “I never put Olympic at higher priority than Japanese people health”

no action will be more clear than this to show the contradiction - but ofcourse there will be no uproar in Japanese public over this gross misuse of SDF personnel for Olympics…

SDF is last defence line & to be used for national emergencies - guess from the government point of view to maintain thier “false” national pride to hold these Olympics it now qualifies as national emergency to justify this action.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

What about the people dying at home in the Kansai area? It seems the Japanese government cares more about foreign athletes and games more than Japanese citizens.

This is sickening beyond belief.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

“Considering” LOL

They will need several months of meetings, deliberations, and deep contemplation before any decision is made. Don’t hold your breath.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Shouldn’t we be using the SDF medical staff in places like Osaka helping to support the general medical system. It horrified me the other evening when a news report suggested having a heart attack is no guarantee to get into a hospital.

Also the staff dealing with Covid need all the support we as a country can provide. It must be soul destroying for them hearing about all the medical staff being diverted to the Olympics.

Hopefully there is also a plan for a major natural disaster. We will need all the help the SDF can give at that time.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

So, to be clear

1 Athletes and officials will skip the line and be vaccinated first.

2 The app where a lot of money was wasted will be recycled to track positive people that are not supposed to move and would easily do it without consequence by leaving their phones.

3 Since medical doctors and nurses are now becoming more necessary and many refuse to volunteer they are going to use the SDF that can't refuse (but would obviously still be necessary in case of public health services being overrun)

4 Now they also need more doctors, nurses, spaces, vehicles, etc. to deliver tens of thousands of vaccine doses, just not to the vulnerable population.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Are they also going to use SDF personnel as "volunteers" for the Olympics?

I was told yesterday that many of the "volunteers" have quit and that the haken tempjob agencies are now advertising "paid volunteer" positions @ 2,000 yen an hour. Even so the organisers are struggling to find enough people prepared to do this for money.

21 ( +21 / -0 )

It gets ever more disgusting and beyond shame.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Will all the medical staff at the Olympics and the drivers, (driving the athletes and the IOC dignitaries around their dinners and events) be vaccinated? Will they go home to their families after work? Mix with the community on their days off?

And numerous other associated workers too, like the staff at the IOC's luxury hotels, or the cleaners at the Olympic village and stadiums, or the airport staff or an endless list of others who will come into contact with the 100,000 coming for the Olympics. And of course the athletes are going to steadfastly obey the rules and never leave the Olympic village ever, except for competing.

The games are 100% safe in whose dreams!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

@virusrex

Great list but you forgot one.

5- daily testing that was promised is now daily testing for athletes and a few officials, the rest of the 100,000 at the games will self test if requested possibly each 2 or days.

Seems the IOC, JOC and Jgov can't get anything right.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Gov't considers using SDF doctors, nurses at Tokyo Olympics

Hey Government, if they are available then why aren't we using them to help out with the situation now? You know, the one where only like 4% of people are vaccinated and Osaka's health system just collapsed?

Just curious.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Why not just hold the main events that the sponsors and tv care about athletics, judo, swimming, basketball, baseball and move rock climbing, bmx, etc to 2022

Or would that make too much sense.?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

In essence the LDP government is withholding aid in the form of vaccinations and care from the citizens and residents of Japan to nurture the Olympics. It is an atrocity in slow motion.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Shameful. If there are any available doctors and nurses have them giving vaccines. This whole fiasco is unbelievable

9 ( +9 / -0 )

They need all the help they can get

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I was told yesterday that many of the "volunteers" have quit and that the haken tempjob agencies are now advertising "paid volunteer" positions @ 2,000 yen an hour. Even so the organisers are struggling to find enough people prepared to do this for money.

Interesting info thanks

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The truth is that any SDF personnel used for the Olympics are personnel that should be working to vaccinate people.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

On Tuesday, Hashimoto told reporters in Tokyo that vaccinations for officials will begin as soon as possible, but did not reveal a specific time frame.

Are volunteers considered officials? Will the volunteers get nothing in return, not even a vaccination? I am pretty certain officials get plenty of financial compensation for their effort.

John Kennedy, you are absolutely correct. I agree,

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who are they kidding? Are they planning to set up state of the art field hospitals too?

Anyone who lives in Japan knows that for ANY serious medical problem, only a general hospital can give proper treatment (if they let you in).

Private hospitals are unable to deal with serious issues and the SDF won’t be able to treat serious issues either.

Anything more serious than rash will end up in a general hospital putting too much strain on that system at this crucial time!

It will be July so expect a LOT of heatstroke, sports injuries requiring MRI and of course COVID infections.

We don’t have the COVID beds, we don’t have the ICU beds, and we don’t have the critical care beds in those ICU units and they clearly can’t spare their doctors.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

In the future when universities have classes on pandemics there will be 2 major study sections.

One will be on how to mismanage a pandemic initially. This will include many western countries.

The other will be on how to how to mismanage a pandemic after initially success and turning it into a failure, this class will be primarily focused on Japan.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Although I disagree with the Olympics being held, if they are being forced on the Japanese people then Japan and the IOC should stipulate that all participating counties bring their own medical teams of doctors and nurses, instead of all the so-called officials and useless personnel. This arrogance shown by the IOC is just unbelievable, no respect at all shown for the Japanese people. Another instance where money and the elite class rule

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Postpone the. till next year and everyone on the planet will fly to Tokyo to watch the games

Zillions of yen will be made by airlines, hotels restaurants etc, the perfect start to life as we know it without covid

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Although I disagree with the Olympics being held, if they are being forced on the Japanese people then Japan and the IOC should stipulate that all participating counties bring their own medical teams of doctors and nurses, instead of all the so-called officials and useless personnel. This arrogance shown by the IOC is just unbelievable, no respect at all shown for the Japanese people. Another instance where money and the elite class rule

Once again, Japanese people are out and about as usual, especially in the Osaka area where there is supposedly a medical crisis. Blaming the gaijin is getting kind of lame.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Excellent idea and a win win situation. The games will be totally safe and the sue of the SDF will boost their image domestically and abroad. This is the kind of plan needed to reassure those with concerns about the events

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

@Cricky

Japan's Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa told a press conference on Tuesday that a plan to use a smartphone app with GPS tracking for games-related foreign visitors has been abandoned due to the development schedule and privacy reasons, 

[...] How much did the development of Japans failed attempt cost?

If I am not mistaking, it should be this one :

Japan's top telecommunications company is getting 7.3 billion yen -- about $67 million -- in taxpayer money to design mobile tracking software to curb the spread of coronavirus infections during the Tokyo Olympics.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210323/p2g/00m/0sp/091000c

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It would be the duty of the forces to close the border instead so that this greedy and health threatening mafia cannot get entry.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

How many doctors and nurses does a military force of 100,000 people have? Why not ask each country to send doctors with their team? Obviously, not all countries can do that. And, many do already. Some Japanese medical personnel will be needed to. But this could reduce the burden.

Oh, I completely forgot: Foreigners practicing medicine in Japan, that cannot be allowed, even in a state of emergency. Because?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It seems that revenue for the IOC doesn't come from ticket sales or tourists that will come to Japan. That's why they don't care.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The former fish market, now a parking lot (no comment on that) will be a transportation hub for the Olympics.. Or one might dub it a Covid infection vector.

Interestingly, the first individual to acquire the virus domestically, was a bus driver, shuttling tourists from Wuhan from Tokyo to Osaka. A paradigm for infection.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These one not unpaid volunteers .

Exactly there are ridiculous attempt .

After all must help with the paid public military officers for shortage of the medical staff part how to get through under the pandemic outbreak .

But it doesn’t use the US force doctors and nurses of hand on your policy .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The IOC is the organizer of the Olympics and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is the venue provider. The government respects their decision and is supporting them in any way possible. The news media should interview the governor of Tokyo more about the Olympics.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why couldnt the goverment have utilised the SDF from day 1? it would have been so simple to start the whole vacine project, 1: take over the Tokyo dome 2: line up across the stadium 20-25 screened injection booths ( a small zone/area) like at a super market check out, put in place a barriers to guid the members of the public towards the booths, so you walk into the TD on one side, go to a station with some ID ie netional insurance or tax number that identifeis you. 3: walk out the other side. how blinking simple is this? you could utilise the large stadiums in other towns and in smaller villages, how about local sports halls or school gyms. you could utilise the amount of doctors or nurses or health care workers, retired/volenter nurses, SDF staff on the day shift and have a skeleton crew over night for people that work nights.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Here's a crazy idea: why not use the SDF doctors and nurses and get them into mobile clinics so they can drive around neighborhoods and vaccinate people instead? Or set up vaccination sites at community halls/centers, school gyms etc.? I honestly can't quite believe the government is still prioritizing the Olympics over the health and safety of its people.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"Gov't considers using SDF doctors, nurses at Tokyo Olympics." Hey what about us? The diligent citizens and residents of Japan who pay taxes and only wish to be safe from harm.

We are being sacrificed for the Olympics. There are millions of fans who no longer like this Olympics and will not like the Olympics of the future.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Here's a crazy idea: why not use the SDF doctors and nurses and get them into mobile clinics so they can drive around neighborhoods and vaccinate people instead?

Several of the mobile clinic Companies that go to large corporations to do health checks and flu shots long ago offered this option to the government and that was before the government raised the amount per shot.

The government said they didn't need the help.

These company's mobile clinics are mostly sitting around doing nothing since covid-19 started.

One company just a few minutes from my house have 25 mobile clinics they haven't moved in months and much of the staff have been laid off they publicly offer the ward to set up in parks, shopping mall parkings, evacuation areas to Vaccinated people and were told no! At that time they were fine and ready to accept ¥2,070 per Vaccine given.

Now the government claims it need SDF and offer more to private clinics to join the vaccination.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Looks like they are pulling out all the stops to get the show on the road. Japan never gives up.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Does the Japanese government have a brain? We can debate that. But one thing is certain. The government does not have a heart.

We need the SDF doctors and nurses before the Olympics. The Olympic people can just go away. We can't.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Consider ????

After the Olympics, they will NEED to...

But the REAL problem that we are overlooking is... that Hospitals here, in Japan, are running short on basic things such as Sedatives for this virus. So those who have it bad, are Dying an excruciating drowning like Death.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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