Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
People wearing face masks exercise at a park in Beijing on Jan. 14, 2021. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19
- The Shizuoka prefectural government issued a virus emergency alert Tuesday, a day after three cases of infection with a new coronavirus variant were confirmed in the central Japan prefecture.
- A 49-year-old man has been arrested for refusing to vacate a toilet cubicle after he was disqualified from taking Japan's standardized university entrance exams for not covering his nose with a face mask, despite receiving multiple warnings, police said Tuesday.
- Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday that the widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines is not a prerequisite for going ahead with this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
- An independent panel commissioned by the World Health Organization criticized China and the U.N. health agency for delays in their initial response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a report it published Monday.
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday Taro Kono, Japan's administrative reform minister, will lead coronavirus vaccination efforts.
- Tokyo confirmed on Monday its latest daily tally of 1,204 new coronavirus cases, the metropolitan government said, as the capital enters the 11th day of its second state of emergency.
- The Imperial Household Agency said Monday it has canceled a public birthday event for Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace for the second year in a row to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
- The prefectural government of Fukushima launched a free multilingual coronavirus consultation service Monday for foreign residents, becoming the first prefecture in Japan to offer such a service via the Line messaging app, it said.
- A student taking Japan's standardized university entrance exams was disqualified Saturday for refusing to cover his or her nose with a facial mask in violation of rules set by the exam operator to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday pledged to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control in Japan "as soon as possible" and continue preparations to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer.
- Japan plans to collect data from people who become infected with the novel coronavirus even after they receive vaccinations to assess how vaccines may help prevent the spread of the virus, sources close to the matter said Sunday.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - January 9~15
People wearing face masks walk in Tokyo's Omotesando area on Jan. 17, 2021, as the capital reported 1,592 coronavirus cases, the highest for any Sunday. (Kyodo) ==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)
https://www.seikatubunka.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/chiiki_tabunka/tabunka/tabunkasuishin/0000001452.html - 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/ - Tokyo Metropolitan Government hotline
https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/contacts
- Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (including weekends and holidays)
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"
https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/hotline/
- Available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese 24 hours a day
050-3816-2787
+81-50-3816-2787 (from overseas) - 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
