Japan’s government this month declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and some surrounding prefectures to tackle rising coronavirus cases. However, compliance with restrictions is voluntary, encapsulating the country’s unique approach. Hitoshi Oshitani, professor of.
4 Min Read
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan missed opportunities to coordinate coronavirus testing and secure hospital beds in the months before the pandemic’s third wave, health officials, doctors and experts say, missteps that hampered its response as winter set in.
FILE PHOTO: Staff wearing protective face shields amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak work at a reception desk at an exhibition centre in Tokyo, Japan, January 13, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
Japan has stood out for containing infections while avoiding the strict lockdowns that devastated economies elsewhere. The death toll, now at 4,315, is one of the lowest among developed nations and around 1% of that of the United States.
Caught off-guard by scant testing, Japan battered by COVID-19 winter Toggle share menu
Advertisement
Caught off-guard by scant testing, Japan battered by COVID-19 winter
Seibu Hospital s medical staff take part in a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) simulation training at the hospital in Yokohama, Japan, Jun 18, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Kim Kyung-hoon)
15 Jan 2021 12:57PM (Updated:
15 Jan 2021 01:30PM) Share this content
Bookmark
TOKYO: Japan missed opportunities to coordinate coronavirus testing and secure hospital beds in the months before the pandemic s third wave, health officials, doctors and experts say, missteps that hampered its response as winter set in.
Japan has stood out for containing infections while avoiding the strict lockdowns that devastated economies elsewhere. The death toll, now at 4,315, is one of the lowest among developed nations and around 1 per cent of that of the United States.
Japan Faces Struggle to Contain Virus Spread in Just a Month Bloomberg 8/01/2021 Lisa Du and Gearoid Reidy
(Bloomberg) Japan’s second state of emergency is set to last a month, but public health experts have already expressed doubts that four weeks is enough time to sufficiently slow the coronavirus that’s spreading at an alarming rate.
With residents increasingly facing virus fatigue and no legal framework to force compliance, the country could struggle to quickly turn the trend of infections downward, experts say. Japan has reported new daily infections records for at least two days in the past weeks, with numbers accelerating in the capital of Tokyo. On Friday, Tokyo reported 2,392 confirmed cases, the second highest to date following Thursday’s record.