As of 10:20 p.m., Thursday, July 23 (Japan time)

• Japan reported on Thursday more than 980 new daily coronavirus infections, marking a record for a second straight day in a resurgence since the government lifted a state of emergency about two months ago.
  
  
• As Japanese couples return to tying the knot, a major Japanese wedding service provider has compiled guidelines to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
  
  
• Bamboo lanterns were lit up Thursday in disaster-hit northeastern Japan, with people praying for the outbreak of the novel coronavirus to be contained and recovery of communities struck by natural calamities.
  
  
• Singapore on Wednesday launched a campaign to get citizens to take local holidays in the hope of throwing a lifeline to the city-state's tourism industry that has been suffering from a lack of visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  
• Travelers in Japan were cautious Thursday as they set out on excursions on the first day of a four-day holiday, even amid persistent concerns over rising novel coronavirus infections in the country.
  
  
• Nippon Professional Baseball officials and representatives of all 12 teams decided Thursday to stick to their 5,000-spectator per game limit, postponing a planned relaxation of the cap imposed due to the coronavirus until the end of August.
  
  
• Japan marked one year until the postponed Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, but questions remain about whether the games can go ahead unless the novel coronavirus pandemic can be contained soon.
  
  
• Environmentalists have warned that a global increase in use of single-use masks, latex gloves and other protective gear for use against the novel coronavirus could exacerbate marine pollution.

As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, July 22 (Japan time)

• Japan on Wednesday reported a record 750 new daily coronavirus infections, exceeding the previous single-day high set in April, as the country battles a resurgence of the virus after it lifted a state of emergency less than two months ago.
  
  
• Japan will begin granting re-entry to foreign residents as it eases a travel ban meant to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday.
  
  
• Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday Japan will commence negotiations to resume business travel with some 10 countries and regions including China, South Korea and Taiwan, easing entry bans currently in place to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - July 11-17

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 walk in Kyoto's Gion area on July 22, 2020. Japan's travel subsidy campaign, excluding trips to and from Tokyo, kicked off the same day to revive domestic tourism amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo)