Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
People wearing masks for protection against the coronavirus walk in front of Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 27, 2021. Aichi Prefecture was placed under the COVID-19 state of emergency the same day, along with seven other prefectures. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Aug. 30
- Malaysia's new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was inaugurated Monday, but the new leader missed the swearing-in ceremony of ministers after coming into contact with someone infected with the coronavirus.
- A total of 460 pregnant women tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Tokyo between April 2020 to July this year, with the highest monthly figure of 98 logged last month, a survey conducted by a university hospital director showed Monday.
- Chiefs of local governments in central Japan on Monday condemned an organizer of a hip hop music event held the previous day in Aichi Prefecture for its lax COVID-19 measures despite pledging to follow the anti-infection guidelines set by the live concert industry.
- The president of the International Paralympic Committee said Monday the ongoing sporting event for athletes with disabilities in Tokyo has exceeded his expectations since starting about a week ago despite being held amid the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 10:15 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 29
- Japan's health minister said Sunday it will be "very difficult" to lift a COVID-19 state of emergency on its planned Sept. 12 expiry, as the country is still struggling to contain surging coronavirus infections and strains on the medical system.
- The Gunma prefectural government said Sunday that foreign substances were discovered in Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine, the latest in a series of contaminants in the company's product reported in Japan over the past several days.
- Japan's health ministry is weighing mixing and matching different COVID-19 vaccines to help ease supply concerns and accelerate the country's inoculation program, the minister in charge of vaccinations said Sunday.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Aug 21~27
Signs seen on an underground shopping street in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Aug. 25, 2021, reads the city remains on high alert to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. (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
