tokyo 2020 olympics

Japan Olympic Committee deputy head has coronavirus

35 Comments
By Toshifumi KITAMURA

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wow, someone got tested

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If that aint a sign, nothing is. Can we start thinking seriously about containment now? The writing is on the wall, plain as day.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So sad

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I want to think positive but I need to be realistic.....The way the coronavirus is spreading incrementally around the world; the IOC will need to, at the very least, reschedule the Summer Olympics for the athletes let alone the spectators coming from all over the world....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Toyko-eng

You're welcome. As for Korea, they had cases of 30 odd deaths from MERS in 2015, I think it was. They learned from that and put measures into place to deal with future pandemics.

Mate, I hear you on the Olympics! Just posted some thoughts on that this morning in the relevant forums on JT. Basicially, there will be no flights to Japan (or anywhere) by then, so that will take care of itself.

As for your opposition on the dangers of taking the herd immunity approach toward containing this, I hear you. And, if they get the timing wrong, it could go wrong, real quick, especially in a nation of hypochondriacs like Japan.

I am leaning forward there being a run on clinics, policy or no policy. Once that happens, Japan will go the Italian route.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

About the case :

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200317/k10012336101000.html

He got a fever the 15th.

According to the data collected by Niid, fever is not mandatory, perhaps time to update the criteria :

https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/2019-ncov-e/2484-idsc/9473-2019-ncov-08-e-2.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Tora

Thanks for the reply. Looks like we misunderstood each other then (more likely I misinterpreted your post)

My thoughts are that it appears to me and at this point in time most other people I know (including Japanese who are or were supportive of the government) that the Japanese government

a. Cares more about the Olympics than the citizens, and

b. Is trying to not test in order to try to prevent cancellation or of the Olympics, and

c. The government is not showing strong leadership.

Personally, I think relying on PCR testing is pathetic, and in Japan you'll take 2-4 days to find out the result. Other countries have moved on already! Four hours or even less in other countries.

I fully agree with you. Japan needs to get moving and follow the (what appears to be) successful process used by South Korea. Test, isolate, and isolate contacts.

Britian also has a similar testing policy (or is that a policy of basically not testing) and hoping for natural herd immunity over time

I believe this is a dangerous approach. We do not know enough about this virus yet. It is acting more like HIV with the re-infections and dormancy and we have no knowledge of possible long term effects. It appears to be something that is not natural.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The hospitals won’t or can’t test either because of policy or lack of testing kits, or both.

However, the elephant in the room is that a hospital will refuse testing even on the the recommendation of a doctor.

This suggests something very amiss...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@tokyo-engr

Sorry if my reply came out wrong. I was just saying the guy probably didn't get any special treatment. And it was just confirmed that he had symptoms a few days after returning to Japan. He had worn a mask during his trip. He also self isolated after coming back.

Of course, it's a travesty that you can't get tested, even if you have symptoms, just because you don't meet certain criteria, or can't get through to their hotline.

Just watching TV now with a debate on pros and cons of testing. The Japanese position is to test only people associated with known clusters, or who have come into contact with known infected people or been in regions where the virus is prevalent. This will prevent a rush on the medical facilities, or so they think.

Almost all of the "expert" panel, including the masked dude (who looks like a member X-Japan) are saying it is pointless testing the general population, since even if you are tested positive, for 80% of people, symptoms will be mild. Also, they arguing that even if you get a negative PCR result, it doesn't mean you don't have it, since it can be unreliable. So, it's better to just test those what meet strict criteria.

Personally, I think relying on PCR testing is pathetic, and in Japan you'll take 2-4 days to find out the result. Other countries have moved on already! Four hours or even less in other countries.

Those 1,500 yen 15 minute testing kits should be distributed here immediately and one should he able to best tested if one wants to be.

By way, Japan is not the only country with this testing regime. Britian also has a similar testing policy (or is that a policy of basically not testing) and hoping for natural herd immunity over time. We are all part of a giant experiment.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Tora

I do not think I am reading too much into this at all. I do not wish ill will toward the man and he is old and should be tested. I am quite often a defender of Japan on this website, I am a long term resident here and like Japan. However it is impossible to defend the indefensible.

For example poster @macv (referenced above) should absolutely have also been tested but was not allowed to be. This is criminal considering the stated conditions.

If you feel this is being handled properly by the Japanese government then you certainly have the right to your opinion. I am of the complete opposite opinion and we would just disagree.

This is not being handled well at all and the lack of leadership is now starting to border on the criminal. We were told two weeks ago the Japanese government would have a plan by March 12. There is obviously still no coordinated plan yet.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Tokyo-engr

Perhaps you reading too much into it. Don't think he would have got special treatment.

When returning to Japan from places where the virus is rife, you are asked to report if you have any symptoms (even mild ones). They will then test you.

I'm assuming he had some kind of symptom or felt he had to get tested.

Anyway, good move on his part to have got tested. He's elderly, after all.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Punctual Plum

How did he get tested? I want to be tested. Where can I do this?

You cannot.

You and I are just expendable cogs in a wheel.

We are not the elite and special ones who are tested, driven in private cars, and generally shielded from the public using OUR tax money.

As a matter of fact we should be bowing down to them and thanking them for being tested while we go without.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@Wallace Fred

Whats even more appalling is people not reacting to the existence of the pandemic in japan but requesting him to step aside fast so someone else can take charge. Baffling.

This is part of a pile of evidence showing that this government cares more about losing the Olympics than it does about the health and safety of the Japanese people or the residents of Japan.

Furthermore if you remember macv posted here yesterday the following.

"@macv  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 mysterious 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!"

macv is an individual who showed symptoms AND is in a high risk group but could not get tested. Tashima-kun, the VP of the Olympic Committee seemed to have no problem getting tested.

There is one rule for the ruling elite and one rule for the rest of this. The government does not give a rats a$$ about us in Japan. We are pretty much on our own.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

How did he get tested? I want to be tested. Where can I do this?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Ah the irony.

Although not sure that the rolling news on every celebrity who tests positive actually informas the debate about the seriousness of the situation or the development of the pandemic or whatever.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

classic! And I love how this goes so well with the “No need for drastic decisions”, and other stories on the desperation of Japan and the IOC to hold these Games at the expense of the lives of thousands, if not millions, in the nation and from abroad.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

MESSAGE!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He'll be all right but I hope he has quarantined himself.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

We need ABE to get Covid19 else he won't cancel it

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Wow! He got tested??

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Next Headline: "All Olympics athletes test positive for Coronavirus"

Abe: "Olympics still on schedule!"

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Honor or not, he's the first Japanese public figure testing positive.

Please take care. Wish he will be back safely.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Elbow bumps....plz!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The article above this one states: "IOC says no need for any drastic decisions on Tokyo Olympics." This article is headlined: "Japan Olympic Committee deputy head has coronavirus." This is more than a hint that the summer Olympics should either be cancelled or at least postponed.

Thousands of people coming from all over the world jammed together as they not only watch the Olympics but also eat, revel and travel about is a sure formula for disaster.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Unfortunate.

Or

Inconvenient.

Choose your favorite word but don't change the plan...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Whats even more appalling is people not reacting to the existence of the pandemic in japan but requesting him to step aside fast so someone else can take charge. Baffling.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

I wish him a prompt recovery.

We’re in the middle of a world pandemic that even didn’t reach it’s pike and they’re still willing to do this Olympic thing.

The Euro football cup was postponed by one year,why can’t they do the same.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

oops..

3 ( +5 / -2 )

LOL

5 ( +7 / -2 )

And there are still dummies who wish to hold Tokyo 2020? Madness.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Well, i believe a lot of people got it, but they just don't even know since for some it doesn't much symptoms. Was he wearing a mask all the time? You know.. they said ot should protect us lol

9 ( +10 / -1 )

This should be front page news!

18 ( +19 / -1 )

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