Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:
As of 11 p.m., Thursday, July 1
- Sports editors from over 10 major U.S. media outlets have sent a letter of protest to organizers of the Tokyo Olympics, saying their anti-COVID-19 rules and restrictions run counter to press freedoms.
- The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 673 new daily coronavirus cases Thursday, following 714 the previous day, amid a resurgence of infections in the capital with less than a month to go before the Olympics.
- The Tokyo Olympics may be held without spectators depending on the COVID-19 situation in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reiterated Thursday amid growing concern that the games starting this month may trigger a surge in infections.
- The southern Pacific island nation of Samoa has decided not to send athletes to the Tokyo Olympics later this month due to the coronavirus pandemic, Radio New Zealand reported online Thursday.
- Land prices in Japan fell 0.5 percent on average in 2021 from a year before, down for the first time in six years due to loss in demand by foreign visitors amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Thursday.
- Japanese athletes who can take part in the Tokyo Olympic opening and closing ceremonies will be limited to those eligible to stay at the athletes' village around that time, as part of steps to enhance safety amid the coronavirus pandemic, an official familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
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.
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