Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
(Osaka)
As of 10 p.m., Monday, April 13 (Japan time)
- Japanese fiber and biotechnology firm Toyobo Co. said Monday it has developed a test kit capable of detecting the new pneumonia-causing coronavirus within 60 minutes.
- Medium-sized firms in a range of industries across Japan are marshaling their technologies and know-how to produce high-quality, washable masks to meet soaring demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- China on Monday reported 108 new symptomatic coronavirus cases on the mainland, marking the highest number of confirmed infections in a single day in over a month.
- The Japanese public are dissatisfied with the response so far by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet to the coronavirus outbreak, a Kyodo News poll showed Monday, with more than two-thirds of respondents finding its key measures inappropriate.
- With face masks on, many Japanese people headed to work as usual on Monday, the first business day since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a 70 percent reduction in commuters to curb new coronavirus infections.
- House of Representatives member Jiro Hatoyama's office said Monday one of the lawmaker's secretaries has contracted the new coronavirus, becoming the first among those working at a Tokyo office building for Japanese parliament members to become infected.
- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach revealed that the IOC is preparing to spend several hundred million dollars in additional costs due to the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games, the German newspaper Welt reported Sunday.
- North Korea on Sunday held a session of its top legislature for the first time since August, state-run media reported Monday amid speculation the coronavirus pandemic may be dealing a blow to the country's economy.
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from a central London hospital Sunday after weeklong treatment for persistent symptoms of the coronavirus.
List of shops closed in Tokyo following emergency declaration
As of 10 p.m., Sunday, April 11 (Japan time)
- Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido issued a further declaration of a state of emergency on Sunday, following one issued previously in late February, after seeing the pace of infections picking up.
- South Korean health authorities on Sunday revealed that among people in the country who recovered from the novel coronavirus, 111 subsequently tested positive again.
- China's health authorities on Sunday reported 99 new coronavirus cases in the mainland, all but two being imported and marking an increase of more than double from the previous day's figure.
- The central Japanese prefecture of Toyama will help boost production of antiviral flu drug Avigan, which is seen as effective in treating COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, its governor said.
- North Korea decided to take "more thorough state measures" against the coronavirus at a key ruling party gathering presided over by leader Kim Jong Un as the pandemic may create obstacles to the country's "struggle and progress," state-run media reported Sunday.
Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan
- NEW! AMDA Medical Information Center's "Multilingual Consultation Service Regarding COVID-19"
(April 10~May 20, 2020)
- Available in English, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and national holidays. Also available in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Spanish, Vietnamese and Portuguese on designated weekdays. Check schedule here.
03-6233-9266
- Available in English and Chinese on weekdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
090-3359-8324 - Tokyo Metropolitan Government's COVID-19 info
https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/flow/ - 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 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 - 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
(Kobe)
