Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, June 30
- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday reported 714 new daily coronavirus cases, reflecting a sharp rebound in the 10 days since the capital exited a state of emergency and shifted to quasi-emergency measures.
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Wednesday offered Japan's support in tackling COVID-19 while vowing to host a "safe and secure" Tokyo Olympics in separate online meetings with the leaders of five Pacific island nations, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said an unspecified "great crisis" related to the coronavirus pandemic that may jeopardize the safety of the country and its citizens has occurred, state-run media reported Wednesday.
- Japanese lawmakers earned an average of 24.16 million yen ($218,600) in income last year, down 110,000 yen from 2019, parliamentary data showed Wednesday, with the salary of Diet members cut by 20 percent since May 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- Foreign and development ministers from the Group of 20 major economies on Tuesday pledged to strengthen coordination in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and to boost investment toward ensuring food security.
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, June 29
- Japan will donate around 1 million coronavirus vaccine doses each to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand from this week, the government said Tuesday.
- Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been fined AU$200 ($151) for failing to wear a mask in a public indoor area in breach of COVID-19 public health orders.
- The Tokyo Olympic torch relay will likely be taken off public roads in most parts of the Japanese capital during the first eight days after the segment begins next week, amid signs of a rebound in COVID-19 infections, an official with knowledge of the planning said Tuesday.
- The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus is increasing rapidly in Myanmar, where the military took full control in a coup almost five months ago.
- With less than a month to go before the start of the Tokyo Games, the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee now believes that the top priority for the host country is ensuring the safety of athletes coming from all over the world, rather than the number of gold medals its national team may win.
- The U.S. government is considering sending first lady Jill Biden to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics starting next month, a diplomatic source said Tuesday, noting that she may attend the opening ceremony.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - June 19~25
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