The Yokohama Triennale art festival opens at Yokohama Museum of Art and two other venues in the eastern Japanese city on July 17, 2020, with measures taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Kyodo)

As of 11:30 p.m., Saturday, July 18 (Japan time)

• Japan is having second thoughts about relaxing the current restrictions on the number of spectators allowed to enter sporting and other major events, a senior government official said Saturday.
  
  
• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday an estimated 25 million Iranians have been infected with the new coronavirus, according to state media.
  
  
• About 650 new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported Saturday across Japan, the highest since April 11 and nearly half of which were confirmed in Tokyo, as a resurgence in infections has become more apparent also in other urban areas.
  
  
• Fujifilm Holdings Corp. will start a clinical study of the antiviral drug Avigan in Kuwait as early as this month in collaboration with an Indian partner company, sources close to the matter said Saturday.
  
  
• The Tokyo metropolitan government on Saturday confirmed 290 new cases of the novel coronavirus, an official said, amid persistent concerns about a second wave of infections.
  
  
• Karaoke lovers can now sing their hearts out and hear their voices clearly even with their face masks on, thanks to a new feature recently installed on karaoke machines across Japan.

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

As of 11 p.m., Friday, July 17 (Japan time)

• Defense Minister Taro Kono said Friday he has requested that the U.S. military conduct coronavirus testing on all personnel coming to Japan, after an outbreak of cases at U.S. bases in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa.
  
  
• Japan's tourism minister on Friday urged young people and seniors in large group tours not to use the government's travel subsidy campaign, citing the risk they may spread the coronavirus and, in the case of the elderly, develop severe symptoms.
  
  
• Crafting lanterns to light up the nights during an annual traditional festival in Kyoto has been scaled down as the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of parts of the festival's major events, including the procession of floats.
  
  
• The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday confirmed record 293 new cases of the novel coronavirus, an official said.
  
  
• The Philippines will allow foreigners who hold long-term visas to enter the country from August, the government said Friday, as it continues to grapple with a rising number of coronavirus cases.

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 wearing face masks walk in Tokyo on July 17, 2020. Tokyo reported a record 293 new cases of the novel coronavirus the same day. (Kyodo)