As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11
- Japan reported Wednesday a near-record 1,547 cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest level since early August, amid signs of what some health experts say is a "third wave" of infections as cooler temperatures arrive and people spend more time indoors without enough ventilation.
- Tokyo on Wednesday confirmed 317 new cases of the novel coronavirus, topping the 300 mark for the first time since Aug. 20, amid signs of a resurgence in infections in various parts of the country as cooler temperatures arrive and people spend more time indoors.
- Tokyo stocks closed up Wednesday, extending their winning streak to seven days and lifting the benchmark Nikkei to an over 29-year high, on growing expectations of an early global economic recovery following progress in the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
- With U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly calling the novel coronavirus the "Chinese virus," many Asian Americans have been exposed to adverse experiences because of their race or ethnicity.
- Japan is considering exempting spectators from abroad for next summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics from the 14-day quarantine period, a measure currently imposed in principle on international travelers to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, government sources said Tuesday.
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday reiterated his pledge to secure enough COVID-19 vaccines for Japan's entire population by the first half of next year after a U.S. drugmaker said its experimental vaccine proved more than 90 percent effective.
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday instructed Cabinet ministers to compile a third supplementary budget for fiscal 2020 to finance a fresh economic stimulus package to support the economy hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. said its experimental vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 during a late-stage clinical study, raising expectations of a breakthrough in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - October 31 ~ November 6
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