Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front row, C, R), Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (front row, 4th from R) and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (front row, C, L) pray for COVID-19 victims during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics at the National Stadium on July 23, 2021, wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Saturday, July 24
- Foreign journalists now in Tokyo for the Olympics have been jumping on the opportunity to join local tours quietly arranged for them by the organizing committee and the metropolitan government amid their COVID-19 restrictions.
- Tokyo, hosting the Olympics under a fourth COVID-19 state of emergency, reported 1,128 new daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, decreasing from 1,359 cases the previous day.
- Seventeen more people linked to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, including one athlete, bringing the total since the beginning of this month to 123, games organizers said Saturday.
As of 11 p.m., Friday, July 23
- The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 1,359 daily coronavirus cases Friday amid public concern about surging infections in the capital where the opening ceremony of the Olympics will be held later in the day.
- The torch relay of the Tokyo Olympics quietly concluded its journey through the Japanese capital Friday morning hours ahead of the opening ceremony, having spent most of the 15-day final leg of its nationwide tour off roads and away from the public due to a surge in coronavirus infections.
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with Pfizer Inc. CEO Albert Bourla in Tokyo on Friday and asked the U.S. firm to bring forward some of its COVID-19 vaccine deliveries planned for this fall in the face of concerns in the country about a supply shortage, officials said.
- The Tokyo Olympics will open Friday night under unprecedented conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with many questioning the value of holding the games while still yearning to see inspired sporting moments.
- The U.S. government on Thursday expressed strong dismay toward China for rejecting the World Health Organization's proposal for a second phase of an investigation into the origin of the novel coronavirus, calling the country "irresponsible."
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - July 17~23
Police officers wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus stand guard near Tokyo's National Stadium as the opening ceremony of the postponed Olympics is held at the stadium on July 23, 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
