Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4
- Japan's daily total of COVID-19 cases surpassed 14,000 on Wednesday, setting another record just days after hitting the previous high, as concerns grew over the strain on the medical system in Tokyo, where the Olympics are being held.
- Japan's population declined to 126.65 million as of Jan. 1, dropping by the biggest number and margin since 2013, reflecting a fall in resident foreigners due to tighter border controls resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Wednesday.
- China has had 144 medium- and high-risk regions for the novel coronavirus outbreak, reaching a record high since the Asian country started to implement anti-epidemic measures on a regular basis, state-run media said Wednesday.
- Fears are mounting that another wave of novel coronavirus infections in China may prevent the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics from being held in a complete form, along with the threat of a games boycott by some nations over human rights issues.
- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday confirmed a record 4,166 daily coronavirus cases, as Tokyo struggles to contain a resurgence despite being under its fourth COVID-19 state of emergency since July 12.
- The Tokyo Olympic organizing committee said Wednesday five confirmed COVID-19 cases among the Greek artistic swimming team are the first cluster of infections in the athletes' village.
- The administration of President Joe Biden said Tuesday that it has now donated and shipped more than 110 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to more than 60 countries, claiming it a "major milestone" that cements the United States as the global leader in COVID-19 vaccine donations.
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3
- Japan reported 12,017 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, the second highest on record, adding to growing concerns about hospital bed shortages, with some doctors criticizing the government's response.
- The Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic, has locked down parts of the city, after local authorities confirmed three new cases of the highly contagious Delta variant, state-run media reported Tuesday.
- Eighteen more people associated with the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total since the start of July to 294, games organizers said Tuesday.
- The Japanese government said Monday it will tighten border controls for travelers from three U.S. states, Finland and some other areas in response to the spread of highly contagious variants of the novel coronavirus.
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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