Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
A large screen in Osaka's Minami area shows Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga meeting the press at his office in Tokyo on June 17, 2021, to explain the government's decision to end the COVID-19 state of emergency covering Tokyo, Hokkaido, Osaka and six other prefectures on June 20. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Friday, June 18
- Eateries in Tokyo will be allowed to serve alcohol from Monday following the lifting of the coronavirus state of emergency in the capital, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday, despite signs of an upward trend in infections for the first time in over a month.
- The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will hold an online meeting Monday to possibly decide on a limit on spectators at the games amid the coronavirus pandemic, Seiko Hashimoto, president of the organizing committee, said Friday.
- The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee said Friday it expects to further cut the number of overseas-based officials and staff permitted to attend to about 53,000, down from the previously reduced figure of about 78,000 and less than one-third of the initial number.
- The Bank of Japan on Friday decided to extend the deadline for its scheme to support corporate funding by six months until next March as the coronavirus pandemic drags on.
- Despite the Tokyo Olympics being just weeks away, academic and vocal games critic Jules Boykoff says it is "not too late" for this summer's event to be canceled if health experts deem it too risky due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Friday started coronavirus vaccinations for staff and media members who will work at this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
- Japan's top coronavirus adviser on Friday said that staging the Tokyo Olympics without spectators is "desirable" as it will bring the lowest risk of a major infection event.
As of 11 p.m., Thursday, June 17
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday expressed his intent to hold this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with spectators, with a decision to be finalized in forthcoming talks among organizers based on the Japanese government's spectator cap for large events.
- Athletes likely to compete for Japan in the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics began receiving coronavirus vaccinations on Thursday, the Japan Paralympic Committee said.
- Japan's government will begin COVID-19 vaccinations for foreign embassy officials in the country as early as Monday, as their local municipalities may not be able to provide the vaccine in time for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics starting July 23, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
- The Japanese government decided Thursday to lift the COVID-19 state of emergency across most prefectures, while keeping some restrictions in place amid concern about a rebound in infections ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
- Japan's state-run mass COVID-19 inoculation centers started administering vaccine to people aged 18 or older Thursday, extending vaccinations beyond those aged 65 or over as many slots at the centers remain vacant.
- The organizing committee of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will give up on selling any more tickets for this summer's games, an official with knowledge of the matter said Thursday.
- Japan plans to start accepting applications for so-called vaccine passports from mid-July at the earliest as more activities open up to vaccinated individuals around the world, according to government sources.
- A plane carrying 1 million coronavirus virus vaccine doses donated by Japan arrived in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Wednesday night, with the country's health minister expressing gratitude for the goodwill gesture.
- The Japanese government is considering setting a cap of 10,000 spectators at the venues of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as a COVID-19 precaution, sources with knowledge of the matter said Wednesday.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - June 12~18
People wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic walk by a countdown board for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in front of JR Shimbashi Station in Tokyo on June 17, 2021. (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
