Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, June 3 (Japan time)
- Two Yomiuri Giants players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Central League team announced Wednesday, casting a shadow over Nippon Professional Baseball's plan to start the 2020 season on June 19.
- The Chinese government has stepped up the number of visas being issued to Japanese citizens after limiting it for months following the coronavirus pandemic, a diplomatic source familiar with bilateral ties said Wednesday.
- The LPGA of Japan Tour will kick off on June 25 behind closed doors with the Earth Mondahmin Cup, the Japan Ladies Professional Golfers' Association and tournament organizers announced Wednesday.
- A team of Japanese researchers has succeeded in creating miniature bronchi from human cells that can be used to study the novel coronavirus and help develop drugs for COVID-19, according to a paper recently released online.
- The International Extreme Sports Festival, known as FISE, will be held completely online for the first time this summer in response to social distancing measures prompted by the global coronavirus pandemic.
- Japanese drugmakers are accelerating their development of vaccines for the novel coronavirus even as foreign rivals seem to be leading the global race, with the government pushing homegrown efforts to secure stable supplies for the country.
- Nagoya Grampus forward Mu Kanazaki has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the J-League first division team said Tuesday, less than a week after Japan's pro football establishment decided to resume the season halted by the virus.
- Only about 30 percent of Japanese companies operating in the United States plan to have all their employees return to office work by the end of the year, a survey showed Tuesday, even as state governments move to ease coronavirus-triggered lockdowns.
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As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, June 2 (Japan time)
- Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike issued a warning Tuesday when the number of new coronavirus infections begins trending higher, as 34 cases were reported in the Japanese capital.
- Japan Airlines Co. plans to halve bonuses for its employees this summer due to sharp deterioration in business over the spread of the new coronavirus, sources familiar with the issue said Tuesday.
- Elementary, junior high and high schools in North Korea have resumed classes since Monday after a monthslong-closure over the new coronavirus pandemic, a state-run newspaper reported Tuesday.
- Japanese professional baseball clubs held practice games on Tuesday to prepare for their scheduled season openers, which have been delayed for roughly three months to June 19 due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
- Japan approved Tuesday a polymerase chain reaction coronavirus test using saliva, which is much safer and easier compared to the currently dominant method that collects mucus from back part of the nose.
- National museums in Tokyo and three other areas in Japan reopened Tuesday after three months of closure due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
- The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace grounds reopened Tuesday to the public after a closure of about two months due to the novel coronavirus.
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Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Tokyo Coronavirus Support Center for Foreign Residents (TOCOS)" multilingual hotline
- Available in Simple Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, Indonesian, Tagalog, Thai, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Khmer, and Burmese, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays except national holidays.
0120-296-004 (toll free) - 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 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