Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
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
As of 11:45 p.m., Tuesday, July 27
- Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will suspend another three assembly lines in Japan for several days in August due to supply chain disruptions caused by the spread of coronavirus infections in Vietnam.
- Tokyo, hosting the Olympics while under a COVID-19 state of emergency, reported a record 2,848 daily novel coronavirus infections on Tuesday, officials said.
- The Japanese government hastily withdrew plans to pressure restaurants via lenders and liquor suppliers not to serve alcohol during states of emergency over the coronavirus, but the controversy shows how it has been relying on impromptu steps in the absence of an adequate legal framework for addressing pandemics, experts say.
- Seven more people related to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, including two athletes from overseas, bringing the total since the start of this month to 155, games organizers said.
As of 11 p.m., Monday, July 26
- Tokyo, hosting the Olympics while under a COVID-19 state of emergency, reported 1,429 new daily coronavirus cases on Monday, topping 1,000 for the seventh day in a row.
- Japan began accepting applications Monday for so-called vaccine passports for people who have been fully inoculated against COVID-19 to travel internationally, as Japanese business lobbies have called for their introduction to help facilitate business activities.
- Sixteen more people related to the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19 including three athletes, bringing the total since the beginning of this month to 148, games organizers said Monday.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - July 17~23
Staff members disinfect the mat after each taekwondo match at the Tokyo Olympics amid the coronavirus pandemic at Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba on July 24, 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
