Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
(Photo shows the Kabukicho nightlife district in Tokyo's Shinjuku area on July 3, 2020. Tokyo confirmed 124 new coronavirus cases the same day)
As of 11 p.m., Saturday, July 4 (Japan time)
- Local governments fretted over the coronavirus spread as they opened shelters for evacuees from the torrential rain in southwestern Japan on Saturday, aiming to ensure social distancing and take proper sanitary measures.
- The J-League first division resumed behind closed doors on Saturday after a roughly four-month hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Tokyo reported 131 new daily coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total number of people infected with the virus to over 20,000 in Japan, according to a local government official.
- With popular sporting leagues holding their games behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, sports fans are finding creative ways to enjoy remote spectatorship and cheer on their favorite teams from the comfort of their homes
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As of 11 p.m., Friday, July 3 (Japan time)
- The Japanese government on Friday unveiled a draft growth strategy that promotes cashless payments and diverse workstyles, responding to the needs of the post-coronavirus era.
- At least 308 Japanese companies and over 1,400 staff based in the United States have been affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt the issuance of certain work visas until the end of this year, a survey by Japan's trade promotion agency showed Thursday.
- Tokyo confirmed 124 new coronavirus cases on Friday, a count that eclipsed the largest daily increase in two months marked the previous day and raised fears about a resurgence of the virus amid the recent worsening trend.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed ruling party officials to focus their efforts on preventing the new coronavirus from entering the country, state-run media reported Friday.
- Single mothers and women with less secure jobs in Japan have seen their employment opportunities upended as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage.
- Cambodia, host of this year's Asia-Europe Meeting, is set to delay the political forum's biennial summit from mid-November to the spring of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a diplomatic source said Friday.
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The Thai government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic means Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration has likely done enough to ride out its four-year term, but that it is too far ahead to predict if it can secure a second stint in 2023, political pundits said.
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
(People in Pyongyang are seen wearing face masks to prevent coronavirus infections on July 3, 2020)
