As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17
- Japanese companies have been cutting job offers to new graduates at the fastest pace in more than a decade, a government survey showed Tuesday, as the coronavirus pandemic has forced firms into thorough efforts to reduce costs.
- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Tuesday visited the athletes' village for the postponed Tokyo Games, where health and safety measures to combat the novel coronavirus include the establishment of a new outpatient facility.
- Ministers from 21 Pacific Rim economies on Monday pledged to cooperate to support economic recovery as the region reels from the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
- Biotechnology company Moderna Inc. said Monday that its experimental vaccine was 94.5 percent effective in preventing COVID-19, making it the second U.S. firm to show promising results in developing a vaccine against the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16
- The Japanese government will financially support shops and restaurants that are asked to shorten their business hours in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday.
- Despite a sharp rebound in Japan's growth in the July-September period, spurred by a pick-up in personal spending and exports, public concerns about the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus make it unlikely that there will be a sustained recovery in consumption anytime soon.
- Thailand's economy shrank 6.4 percent in the three months through September year on year, a smaller decline than the 12.1 percent contraction during the previous quarter, official data showed Monday.
- The Imperial Household Agency is considering suspending Emperor Naruhito's annual New Year's event at the Imperial Palace due to mounting fears about a new wave of coronavirus infections, an agency source said Monday.
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday confirmed with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach that the Tokyo Olympics will be held as planned next summer, despite the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - November 7 ~ 13
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