Read The Diplomat, get to know Asia-Pacific
Tokyo and Osaka are in an extended, stricter state of emergency after an explosion of fast-spreading COVID-19 variants.
The immediate spread of highly contagious COVID-19 variants has led to an extension of the existing state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and neighboring Hyogo Prefecture until the end of May.
A third state of emergency declared in the capital on April 25, targeting the three-day national holiday of Golden Week, which will end on May 11. However, a fourth wave of infections shows no signs of slowing down, and the spread of infections surpassed the peak of the third wave that occurred last year. Tokyo recorded a seven-day average of 637 new daily cases and the highest number of 1,050 cases. on May 1st.
The immediate spread of the coronavirus in Osaka in early April forced the local government to cancel the Osaka leg of the Olympic torch relay. But a month later, local hospitals are being defeated and, for the first time, all hospital beds intended for seriously ill patients are occupied.
The minister in charge of the country’s COVID-19 response, Nishimura Yasutoshi, said Osaka is in a critical scenario and warned that Tokyo could face a similar flood of hospital beds in the next two weeks unless the infection rate is reduced.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is concerned that the immediate spread of the coronavirus is due to mutant strains. It is feared that the original virus will be replaced by the N501Y strain. In Tokyo, 62% of the 521 new cases reported on May 6 were due to the N501Y strain and five cases of the Indian strain were also detected. Osaka is said to be battling the spread of the UK variant. At this time, variants originating in South Africa, Brazil, and the Philippines have emerged in Japan. To make matters worse, the government has warned of the emergence of a “double mutant” variant with similar characteristics to the two strains that have been ravaging India lately.
In Japan, the spread of these highly contagious variants is intensifying among young people and the working-age population. The number of critically young people in need of oxygen, ventilators or intensive care is rising and reached the overall national high of 1,114 cases. on May 6. Currently, another 61,716 people are being treated for COVID-19 across Japan and another 10,712 people have been treated. He has died from the virus so far.
The Japan Medical Association said that “the scenario is dire because the infection is spreading very quickly. “On May 6, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko told reporters that the situation in the capital had not improved.
However, on May 7, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide noted at a meeting of the running organization that since the start of the state of emergency, traffic between Tokyo and Osaka had begun to decrease, indicating that countermeasures were beginning to ease. produce its effects. Asked about the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Olympics, Suga replied: “Unless the IOC makes the decision to cancel the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese government will continue its efforts to host the Games. “
With less than three months to go until the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Pfizer is offering to donate vaccines to athletes and it has been well received by the IOC, although Britain and Japan did not want to guarantee that their athletes would be prioritized in doses so as not to “skip”. the tail. ” However, experts have expressed fears that the rampant spread of mutant variants may simply decrease the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The government hopes to stem the tide of coronavirus infections by asking restaurants to avoid serving alcohol altogether and to close their opening hours at 8 p. m. of painters who go to paintings reaches 70%.
Meanwhile, Japanese citizens and citizens returning from India and other countries will also be required to stay in a hotel for six days to fight the spread of mutant variants.
In addition, Tokyo’s popular entertainment districts, such as Shibuya, and buildings have been asked to turn off their neon lights after 8 p. m. to discourage alcohol consumption and walking down the street.
Understand the biggest issues in Asia and the Pacific with a subscription to The Diplomat.
The immediate spread of highly contagious COVID-19 variants has led to an extension of the existing state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and neighboring Hyogo Prefecture until the end of May.
A third state of emergency declared in the capital on April 25, targeting the three-day national holiday of Golden Week, which will end on May 11. However, a fourth wave of infections shows no signs of slowing down, and the spread of infections surpassed the peak of the third wave that occurred last year. Tokyo recorded a seven-day average of 637 new daily cases and the highest number of 1,050 cases. on May 1st.
The immediate spread of the coronavirus in Osaka in early April forced the local government to cancel the Olympic torch relay in Osaka. But a month later, local hospitals are defeated, and for the first time, all critically ill hospital beds are occupied.
The minister in charge of the country’s COVID-19 response, Nishimura Yasutoshi, said Osaka is in a critical scenario and warned that Tokyo could face a similar rush of hospital beds in the next two weeks unless the rate is reduced. of infection.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government fears that the immediate spread of the coronavirus is due to mutant strains. It is feared that the original virus will be replaced by the N501Y strain. In Tokyo, 62% of the 521 new cases reported on May 6 were due to the N501Y strain and five cases of the Indian strain were also detected. Osaka is reportedly battling the spread of the UK variant. So far, variants originating in South Africa, Brazil and the Philippines have appeared in Japan. To make matters worse, the government has warned of the emergence of a “double mutant” variant with similar characteristics to the two strains that have been ravaging India lately.
In Japan, the spread of these highly contagious variants is intensifying among young people and the working-age population. The number of critically young people in need of oxygen, ventilators or intensive care is rising and reached the overall national high of 1,114 cases. on May 6. Currently, another 61,716 people are being treated for COVID-19 across Japan and another 10,712 people have been treated. He has died from the virus so far.
The Japan Medical Association said that “the scenario is dire because the infection is spreading very quickly. “On May 6, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko told reporters that the situation in the capital had not improved.
However, on May 7, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide noted at a meeting of the functioning organization that since the start of the state of emergency, traffic between Tokyo and Osaka had begun to decline, indicating that countermeasures were beginning to wane. produce its effects. Asked about the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Olympics, Suga replied: “Unless the IOC makes the decision to cancel the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese government will continue its efforts to host the Games. “
With less than three months to go until the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Pfizer is offering to donate vaccines to athletes and it has been well received by the IOC, although Britain and Japan did not want to guarantee that their athletes would be prioritized in doses so as not to “skip”. the tail. ” However, experts have expressed fears that the rampant spread of mutant variants may simply decrease the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The government hopes to stem the wave of coronavirus infections by asking restaurants to completely avoid serving alcohol and close their opening hours at 8 p. m. of painters who come to paintings reaches 70%.
Meanwhile, Japanese citizens and citizens returning from India and other countries will also have to stay in a hotel for six days to fight the spread of mutant variants.
Additionally, Tokyo’s popular entertainment districts such as Shibuya and buildings have been asked to turn off their neon lights after 8 p. m. to discourage alcohol consumption and walking in the street.
The immediate spread of highly contagious COVID-19 variants has led to an extension of the existing state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and neighboring Hyogo Prefecture until the end of May.
A third state of emergency declared in the capital on April 25, targeting the three-day Golden Week national holiday, which will end on May 11. However, a fourth wave of infections shows no signs of slowing, and the spread of infections has surpassed the peak of the third wave that occurred last year. Tokyo recorded a seven-day average of 637 new cases daily and the highest number of 1,050 cases. May 1st.
Thisanka Siripala is an Australian-Sri Lankan multi-platform journalist based in Tokyo.