By now you’ve seen the news: The omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly throughout Japan, with case numbers in almost every prefecture and major city sharply on the rise since the new year.
Also on the rise? A massive volume of information and speculation, often in Japanese, about how the country is planning to deal with the new variant. It’s times like these that a summary of what’s going on can be helpful — though it’s important to remember that the situation is fluid and likely to change.
Estimates show that upward of 80% to 90% of new cases throughout the country are, at present, the more infectious omicron variant of COVID-19. While the science and data point to an alarming trajectory, there are safe, consistent practices that you can take to protect yourself and your family.