Japan s transport ministry ponders weekend, holiday expressway discount for motorcycles
February 22, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
The building housing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is pictured in Tokyo s Chiyoda Ward. (Mainichi/Kazuo Motohashi) TOKYO Japan s transport ministry is considering cutting the expressway toll for motorcycles to half that for regular cars on weekends and holidays, from spring to autumn. According to sources close to the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the discount being discussed would be part of the electronic toll collection (ETC) system s Touring Plan, meaning bikes would have to have an ETC device to take advantage of the lower rate. Some in the LDP are calling for implementation of the discount program within the year, and the government is now considering the timing. As an increasing number of people use motorcycles to avoid the three Cs closed spaces, crowded places and close-contac
Disease experts wary after discovery of virus mutation in Japan in Dec. 2020
February 20, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
The Toyama Building that houses the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is seen in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, in this file photo. (Mainichi/Kazuo Motohashi) TOKYO Following the discovery of a number of coronavirus strains in Japan including a mutation of unknown origin, a sense of caution is growing among infectious disease experts concerning the variants, some of which could be more infectious or weaken the body s immune response. On Feb. 19, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced that a separate mutant strain of unknown origin had already been confirmed to be in Japan at the start of December 2020. The government is entrusting genome analysis of the strain to a private testing firm, to help strengthen its surveillance system. One expert asserted, We probably won t be able to avoid the spread of variant strains.
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COVID-19 found in more bodies among Japan s unnatural deaths in Jan. than for all of 2020
February 13, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
The entrance of Central Government Building No. 2, which houses the National Police Agency, is seen in this file photo. (Mainichi/Kazuo Motohashi) TOKYO There were 132 bodies handled by police across Japan as unnatural deaths and carried the coronavirus in January, surpassing the 122 bodies with COVID-19 counted in all of 2020, the Mainichi Shimbun has learned. Police around the country classify those who get sick and die outside medical institutions as deaths from unnatural or other causes. According to the National Police Agency, seven bodies with the coronavirus have been found since the beginning of February this year.