Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
People stage an anti-government rally in Bangkok on Oct. 18, 2020, calling for political change and reform of the monarchy. (Kyodo)
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19 (Japan time)
- The Japan Sumo Association said Monday it will host up to around 5,000 fans at the November Grand Sumo Tournament, about half of the full capacity at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
As of 11 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18 (Japan time)
- Major travel agency JTB Corp. has started selling a system to lodging facilities in Japan that allows their guests to chat with staff using their own smartphones, in an effort to prevent the coronavirus spread by reducing face-to-face contact.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - October 10~16
People listen to a stump speech over the Osaka metropolis plan in the western Japan city on Oct. 18, 2020, ahead of the Nov. 1 referendum. The initiative calls for restructuring the city's 24 administrative districts into four special wards with greater authority and elected leaders, to eliminate duplication of work between the prefectural and city governments. (Kyodo)
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"
- Available in Simple Japanese and English, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Also available in Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese on designated weekdays. Check schedule here.
03-6233-9266 - 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
