Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
Media crews wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus walk to the main press center for the Tokyo Olympics on July 1, 2021, at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Monday, July 5
- Malaysia's embattled Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced Monday that parliament, which has been suspended since January when the country was placed under emergency rules to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, will reconvene from July 26.
- The Tokyo metropolitan government is moving toward taking the Olympic torch relay off public roads also in the second half of the 15-day leg in the capital, due to a surge in coronavirus infections, an official familiar with the planning said Monday.
- The Tokyo metropolitan government reported on Monday 342 new coronavirus cases, exceeding the number logged a week earlier for the 16th straight day, with less than three weeks to go before the Olympics.
- The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Monday it will push back the release of the results of a fresh ticket lottery to Saturday, as the capital continues to grapple with a surge of coronavirus infections and the likelihood is high that the number of spectators to be allowed at each venue will be reduced.
- President Joe Biden on Sunday said the United States is getting closer to overcoming the coronavirus pandemic as the country marked Independence Day, although vaccinations fell just short of a goal set by his administration.
As of 10 p.m., Sunday, July 4
- Japan is making arrangements for its COVID-19 vaccination passports to be accepted by over 10 nations, including Italy, France and Greece, after the certificate program begins in late July, government sources said Sunday.
- The Japanese government plans to extend the quasi-state of emergency covering Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures by about one month, keeping it in place during the Summer Olympics amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases in the capital, government sources said Sunday.
- About 40 percent of sessions, or time slots, of the Tokyo Olympics are expected to be held without spectators if the current attendance cap of 10,000 people per venue is lowered to 5,000 as part of precautions against a potential fresh wave of coronavirus infections, officials involved in the planning process said Saturday.
As of 11 p.m., Saturday, July 3
- Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama was forced to withdraw from the ongoing Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, Michigan, before the second round Friday after testing positive for coronavirus.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - June 26~July 2
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike shows up in support of a candidate representing Tomin First no Kai, a regional party founded by the governor, in Chofu, western Tokyo, on July 3, 2021, a day before the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. (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
