(A COVID-19 positive patient is treated by doctors at a hospital in Rome)[Getty/Kyodo]
As of 10:00 p.m., Sunday, March 22 (Japan time)
- The International Olympic Committee's Executive Board will meet this coming week, months ahead of schedule, to talk about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on training for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
- The Japanese government and ruling parties are negotiating to set the size of an emergency economic package, to be formulated to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, at more than 30 trillion yen ($270 billion), sources close to the matter said Sunday.
- About 70 percent of Japanese parents are worried about the impact the nationwide school shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak is having on their children, a survey by a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization showed recently
- Hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, Japan's economy faces its biggest challenge in more than a decade, with analysts warning of a technical recession and even worse if this summer's Tokyo Olympics is cancelled
- Despite Japan's efforts to carry out more testing for the new coronavirus, medical experts have cast doubt on whether the country can provide adequate testing for citizens and promote effective policies to contain the outbreak
- The number of infections of the new coronavirus has surpassed 300,000 worldwide, with deaths from the disease topping 13,000 as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University and a Kyodo News tally based on government data and media reports.
- Cherry blossoms along the Potomac River in Washington have reached peak bloom, but drew fewer visitors than usual on Saturday as the United States struggles to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus
(A commuter checks his phone at Brasilia Interstate Bus Station after a decree of state of public calamity was issued in Brazil due to the coronavirus pandemic)[Getty/Kyodo]
As of 11:00 p.m., Saturday, March 21 (Japan time)
- Japan plans to implement corporate tax refunds for companies that have been forced to incur losses due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, a government source said Saturday.
- Myanmar still claims to have avoided the coronavirus pandemic despite being surrounded by three countries battling the virus, including China where the outbreak started.
- Bangkok's metropolitan authority on Saturday ordered the closure of shopping malls and entertainment facilities in the capital to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
- Holding the Tokyo Olympics on schedule as the local organizing committee and the International Olympic Committee advocate is "irresponsible," The Washington Post's editorial board wrote in a column released Friday.
- Norway's Olympic committee said Friday it has asked the International Olympic Committee not to hold this summer's Tokyo Olympics until the new coronavirus pandemic is under control.
- The total number of people who have been infected with the new coronavirus in Japan, excluding those who contracted it aboard a cruise ship, topped 1,000 on Friday
- Japanese and U.S. foreign ministers on Friday agreed to closely cooperate in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, recognizing the need to enact border controls for a certain period of time to address the global health crisis
List of major facilities, events affected by coronavirus in Japan
Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan
- Japan National Tourism Organization's "Guide for when you are feeling ill"
- Multilingual clinic/hospital search available in English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese
https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html - JNTO's "Japan Visitor Hotline"
- Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese 24 hours a day
050-3816-2787
+81-50-3816-2787 (from overseas)
http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/content/001328767.pdf - Tokyo Metropolitan Government's hotline
- Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
0570-550571
- Available via fax for those with hearing impairments
03-5388-1396 - Japan's health ministry hotline
- Available in Japanese only, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
0120-565653 - World Health Organization's "Q&A on coronaviruses"
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
(A worker cleans and disinfects an area in front of Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque)[Getty/Kyodo]