Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
Measures against the coronavirus are shown on a board at Universal Studios Beijing on its official opening day on Sept. 20, 2021. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
As of 11 p.m., Monday, Sept. 27
- Thailand will reopen more tourist destinations, including the cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, to welcome fully vaccinated foreign visitors from Nov. 1, the government said Monday.
- The Japanese government is set to end the COVID-19 state of emergency covering Tokyo and 18 prefectures when it expires at the end of this month, a source familiar with the matter said Monday.
- The Japanese government said Monday it will ease quarantine rules for people vaccinated against COVID-19 entering the country starting Oct. 1, shortening the required period for self-isolating at home from 14 days to 10 days as it looks to restart international travel.
- Japan will conduct an experiment using proof of COVID-19 vaccination at professional baseball and soccer stadiums in preparation for easing capacity restrictions, a Cabinet minister said Monday.
As of 10 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 26
- Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday sounded optimistic about lifting Japan's state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic when it expires at the end of this month, saying the COVID-19 situation in the country is improving.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - September 18~24
People gather outside the National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 8, 2021. The ceremony was held without spectators from the general public amid the coronavirus pandemic. (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
