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Tokyo reports 8,638 new coronavirus cases; nationwide tally 46,199

57 Comments

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday reported a record high 8,638 new coronavirus cases, up 1,261 from Wednesday and up 5,514 from last Thursday.

By age group, 2,617 cases were in their 20s, 1,550 in their 30s and 1,1251 in their 40s, while 976 were aged between 10 and 19, and 781 younger than 10.

The number of infected people hospitalized with severe symptoms in Tokyo is nine, down one from Wednesday, health officials said. The nationwide figure is 287, up six from Wednesday.

Nationwide, the number of reported cases was 46,199. After Tokyo, the prefectures with the most cases were Osaka (5,933), Kanagawa (3,344), Aichi (3,074), Hyogo (2,483), Fukuoka (2,225), Chiba (1,596), Hiroshima (1,569), Hokkaido (1,437), Kyoto (1,320), Okinawa (1,309), Gunma (612), Okayama (510), Nara (504), Ibaraki (477), Nagasaki (474), Niigata (469), Shiga (462), Tochigi (443), Nagano (441), Gifu (419), Mie (364), Miyazaki (329), Oita (304), Kagoshima (303), Ehime (260), Saga (256), Wakayama (232), Aomori (227), Miyagi (195), Ishikawa (180), Yamanashi (80), Kagawa (167) and Shimane (166).

Nine coronavirus-related deaths were reported.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

57 Comments
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No surprise at all, the number surge is certainly due to lack of govt. policy in controlling community transmission rather than just the border. Infections are already in so it holds meaningless to restrict all the foreigners willing to immigrate.

11 ( +25 / -14 )

Always complaining about testing !

Must be exhausting doing it constantly for two years

-6 ( +20 / -26 )

It's an average of 26000 test per day over the last 3 days - about double compared to the last waves.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Based on these numbers, we are headed way way higher. Overseas it took Omicron around 6-7 weeks to peak and we are not even half way in Japan.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Always complaining about testing !

Must be exhausting doing it constantly for two years

Because it's the measure of how well a place is doing regarding the pandemic.

The higher the number of tests the better it is.

Deaths and social and economic activities are irrelevant.

-4 ( +10 / -14 )

It will all be over in 5 weeks and 3 days.

-14 ( +8 / -22 )

hospitalized with severe symptoms

These means ICU. There are 154,000 hospitalized people.

In my life, I've never known anyone hospitalized with a flu or common cold. But anti-vaxxers say COVID is just like a common cold, so they must be lying or blind.

-2 ( +16 / -18 )

“Deaths and social and economic activities are irrelevant.”

Comment of the pandemic!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday reported a record high 8,638 new coronavirus cases, up 1,261 from Wednesday and up 5,514 from last Thursday.

Compare this to the other article on the front page about the response of the New Zealand administration. The response of the NZ admin has been reasoned , scientific and kept in mind the welfare of the populace. The polar opposite of the LDP pandemic response.

People will be turned away from hospitalization with COVID in Tokyo,die, and it will be buried in the distracted media.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

To have meaningful results you need a meaningful sample size.

15,000 tests is negligible.

It's like asserting that 100% of the world population is blond, just because me and my brother are.

We need daily testing on the millions for Japan.

-1 ( +12 / -13 )

These means ICU. There are 154,000 hospitalized people.

According to to the link in the article there are 154,000 active cases, but that doesn't mean that all of them are hospitalized (though I would assume a fair number are).

3 ( +7 / -4 )

It’s way past time for a true and hard lockdown. No more urging . No fancy recommendations. Japan is proud of all their rules so it’s finally time for some Covid rules . This is not going away as some have suggested. Nor is it not deadly as some have suggested. No . It doesn’t only affect obese people. No . It’s not okay if it mainly gets the elderly or those with other medical conditions. No. Don’t start popping Vitamin D . If you’re double vaccinated, wear a mask in any public setting, Avoid any and all closed rooms / buildings. Avoid the bars and restaurants. It’s time to focus on the pandemic and how to beat it . No. We can’t learn to live with it until people stop dying from it .

-19 ( +7 / -26 )

It will all be over in 5 weeks and 3 days.

Feb 27th, noted. Could you make it Feb 26th, it's a Saturday and wouldn't mind a few pints?

21 ( +22 / -1 )

Steven MccarthyToday  05:26 pm JST

It’s way past time for a true and hard lockdown. No more urging . No fancy recommendations. Japan is proud of all their rules so it’s finally time for some Covid rules . This is not going away as some have suggested. Nor is it not deadly as some have suggested. 

Unbelievable, there's still people clamoring for a lockdown in 2022? Guess what, it's never going to happen. Aside from the fact that it's impossible under Japanese law, most of us (Japanese citizens and foreign residents alike) are tired of this nonsense and want to get on with our lives. You're welcome to lock yourself in your room for the next few months though!

Also, compared to past variants, it's not particularly deadly, and yes it will go away, as shown by the falling numbers in South Africa, UK, etc. Lockdowns and other restrictions on people's movement and interaction are just going to delay the inevitable.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

The numbers are probably 3x these figures. The preschool my son goes to had a Covid incident last week. My son happen to also get sick around the same time. Just for a precaution, the school asked all the students who were in close contact with the individual to get tested - a negative PCR test would be required to return to school. We called several clinics to try to get a test for my son, but because his symptoms weren't severe enough (no fever, limited coughing), we were denied a test even when I explained that he needs one to return to school. We finally got a test done at the Tokyo Medical Clinic and my son was fine, but how many people are turned away everyday for similar reasons, and how many of those individuals are actually infected, but don't know it?

13 ( +17 / -4 )

@BlackflagCitizen

the fact that a doctor would refuse to test for covid for a child who was in close contact with a confirmed case, and who was themselves experiencing some symptoms is just scandalous. I cannot believe that this is allowed to happen in this country.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

People live with cancer, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, heart failure, AIDS and all kinds of additional problems.

With the exception of AIDS (which you can now live with no problem), none of what you have listed is contagious.

At least compare apples with apples.

3 ( +13 / -10 )

Case numbers ok good. Now how many have symptoms. 9 severe in hospital out of 8638 less than 1%.

Numbers booga booga are you scared yet?

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

If you live in Tokyo or can get to Tokyo, just pop in to any of these 190 clinics and drug stores to get a free PCR test, results withing the next day. You don't need a referral, symptoms, registration or reservation.

https://tokyo-kensasuishin.jp/img/business.pdf

Is anything like this available in other parts of the country?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Compare this to the other article on the front page about the response of the New Zealand administration. The response of the NZ admin has been reasoned , scientific and kept in mind the welfare of the populace. The polar opposite of the LDP pandemic response.

REALLY short and convenient memory!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Herd immunity here we come, finally we can be rid of this hysteria.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

Though chances are I have the virus, like many viruses ... I have yet to feel the symptoms, and don't expect to. ''Terrain Theory'' — for those following the science.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If you live in Tokyo or can get to Tokyo, just pop in to any of these 190 clinics and drug stores to get a free PCR test, results withing the next day. You don't need a referral, symptoms, registration or reservation.

https://tokyo-kensasuishin.jp/img/business.pdf

Is anything like this available in other parts of the country?

Not sure why someone down voted this. Its not an opinion, these facilities exist. You don't like testing? Don't believe the Tokyo government link? Or was your down vote indicating that other parts of the country lack this service?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Always complaining about testing !

Must be exhausting doing it constantly for two years

Let me help you rephrase.

Always comparing Japan's cases with that of some selected countries

and never mentioning that the number of tests done by those countries are

10x in some cases 100x higher than Japan.

It must be exhausting painting a wrong picture constantly for two years.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

“It must be exhausting painting a wrong picture constantly for two years.”

I for one am fine with this “wrong”picture, by your definition, where the damage on the population has been relatively lower on key metrics. Besides, we haven’t had to live through draconian lockdowns and discrimination some of you and our friends and families had gone through elsewhere outside Japan. So whine and criticize at will, I don’t care.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

If they simply can not afford foreigner, why they are giving COE to students and workers.

students and workers are waiting to enter to japan since 2 years and yet to they think about it my request to government if you can not manage to these people why you are giving COE.

Japan is the only country in the world to not to believe in quarantine and PCR testing and banned foreigner to enter to japan

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Because it's the measure of how well a place is doing regarding the pandemic.

The higher the number of tests the better it is.

No its not, you test to a point where you keep your positives down to a very low level. Beyond that is pretty much pointless unless you're trying for a China-like zero covid policy.

Once you get to significantly sub-5% positivity what are you going to do for more subjects. Forcibly abduct people off the streets to submit samples?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

@ rainyday

According to to the link in the article there are 154,000 active cases, but that doesn't mean that all of them are hospitalized (though I would assume a fair number are).

No, active cases as of tomorrow was at 211,000.

154,000 as of tomorrow are hospitalized or in need of medical treatment. That means only 57,000 are asymptomatic.

Oh, to be young and healthy.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The question is how much we should worry about Omicron. Can we think of it as another "flu"?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

no post-mortem testing !

Lol really? Hahaha

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

We had 2 people staying in our apartment over the last weekend test positive and multiple friends also positive and have still been refused a test, at least until the contact tracers catch up to them, even though my partner has some symptoms.

We just get bounced around to all these lovely keigo speaking ladies making excuses for why it cannot be done.

It's a joke.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

Justasking

No, it doesn’t mean that amount are hospitalised or needing medication. I guess you think there are 154000 people seriously I’ll with Omicron in Japan?

Anyway, back to reality. This wave will be over sooner rather than later. Don’t believe the hype! This does not effect kiddies worse, more are infected because Omicron is so transmissible and their parents take them to hospital, yet they are not seriously ill. Still no fatalities of under 10 years old in Japan in 2 years.

Eat healthy foods, exercise daily and if obese, get to a decent weight and take sensible precautions whilst out and about.

-6 ( +9 / -15 )

Eat healthy foods, exercise daily and if obese, get to a decent weight and take sensible precautions whilst out and about.

Eat healthy food ? for someone living alone and without any responsibilty it is very easy say so.

How do I with 2 kids in college and on a temp job with an income of less than 3,000K ?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

@falseflagsteve

No, it doesn’t mean that amount are hospitalised or needing medication. I guess you think there are 154000 people seriously I’ll with Omicron in Japan?

What are you talking about? I didn't "interpret" the statistics. That's what is said on the website.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Justtaking

You understand that it means that most are just told to stay at home and given either no medication or something like pain killers. They do with everyone who is tested positive.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

It's not just omikron.. delta is still in the game at least here in Hiroshima...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

As I have posted many time this covid virus is not going to go away. You can't kill a virus. If man could there would not be a common cold. This covid thing is going to be the way of the world until we can control it so get use to wearing the pampers on your face. Its here to stay.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

With Omicron there is no point testing everyone. It's waste of resources. It can't be stopped anyways. Test only those who have severe symptoms or need to be hospitalized. Obviously detected cases are just the tip of the iceberg.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

The response of the NZ admin has been reasoned , scientific and kept in mind the welfare of the populace

The response of NZ has been to impose useless lockdowns for a few cases. Nothing scientific at all but pure political paranoia

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The UK has CANCELLED ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS and it is high tide that the world follows sui

BoJo wanna save himself and escape from the booze party scandal

1 ( +6 / -5 )

I pretty sure most people that read this site know that Japan's numbers are really 10 time's what there're reporting. If Japan is mainly testing the seriously ill then you know for sure the positive number are much higher. It's kind of like giving a pregnancy test to a woman that's 7 months pregnant. I live in Canada there's been so much on TV showing the long lines of people waiting for a covid test. I haven't seen anything like that coming out of Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Marcelito.....

If you live in Tokyo or can get to Tokyo, just pop in to any of these 190 clinics and drug stores to get a free PCR test, results withing the next day. You don't need a referral, symptoms, registration or reservation.

https://tokyo-kensasuishin.jp/img/business.pdf

Is anything like this available in other parts of the country?

It's available in my prefecture too...from the info available this free testing is for limited time only during January...it finishes on 31/1. For some mysterious reason it is not really promoted by the powers to be so majority of my friends didn't know about it. Go figure.

The testing duration WILL be extended, just like the "quasi-emergency" measures for 3 weeks WILL be extended. The testing center info is only in Japanese, and you are correct, it could be better publicized.

These 190 centers have the capacity to do 30,000 tests a day. This is on top of the general testing at regular clinics and hospitals etc.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Very contagious Covid variant. =Wear a mask and disinfect hands when traveling and commuting.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

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