As of 11 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20
- The Japanese government said Saturday it has received a report of a potential side effect from coronavirus vaccination, hives, in the wake of the vaccination rollout in the country earlier this week.
- Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Saturday vowed to ensure the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and cooperate to revive a global economy battered by the pandemic.
As of 11 p.m., Friday, Feb. 19
- Wrestlers from the three stables that missed the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament due to coronavirus infections had their medical checkups Friday as they stepped up preparations for the upcoming March grand tournament.
- The number of passports issued by the Japanese government in 2020 plunged 70.3 percent from the previous year to 1.34 million, the lowest in 48 years, reflecting a drop in the number of people traveling abroad amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
- Japan will receive its second shipment of Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, the minister in charge of vaccination efforts said Friday, as the rollout gradually expands to hospitals across the country.
- Ahead of a virtual gathering, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that the Group of Seven industrialized nations should help speed up the development of future vaccines, treatments and tests for emerging diseases.