Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
As of 11 p.m., Monday, May 17
- The governments of Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan's north said Monday that elementary, middle and high schools in the two cities will be closed from Tuesday through May 28 amid an increase in coronavirus cases.
- China on Monday expressed support for waiving intellectual property protections for novel coronavirus vaccines in a bid to help developing nations suffering from the ongoing pandemic.
- The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began its segment in Hiroshima on Monday, but the event was downscaled with torchbearers passing on the flame at a park without spectators in the prefecture, which is under an emergency over surging coronavirus infections.
- Online bookings for elderly people to receive vaccinations at a large state-run vaccination center in Tokyo started Monday as Japan tries to accelerate its vaccine rollout amid a fourth wave of coronavirus infections.
As of 10 p.m., Sunday, May 16
- The Indonesian government said Sunday it has suspended the distribution and use of a batch of AstraZeneca Plc's coronavirus vaccine following the death of a 22-year-old man a day after his inoculation with the vaccine.
- India's capital region of Delhi announced Sunday a one-week extension of its coronavirus lockdown until May 24, keeping the tight measure in place for over a month, local media reported.
- A total of 59.7 percent of people in Japan said the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer should be canceled, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday, as infections in the country continue to rise less than three months before the games.
- The prolonged coronavirus pandemic is likely to lead to a widening of the gender gap in Japan, already the worst among major advanced countries, unless the government takes action, a Cabinet Office panel said recently.
- With 100 days left until the Tokyo Paralympic Games, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons says strong coronavirus countermeasures, including a big reduction in the number of guests and officials, will ensure the safety of participants and the Japanese public.
- Tougher measures against the novel coronavirus commenced Sunday in six prefectures in Japan as infections continue to surge ahead of the Summer Olympics, with three coming under an expanded state of emergency and another three under a quasi-emergency.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - May 8~14
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