Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
As of 11 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23
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The number of mergers and acquisitions involving Japanese firms is expected to hit a record high in 2021 as companies invest in growth areas in the hope of overcoming the competition in a post-coronavirus world, according to an M&A advisory company.
- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday signaled that a decision is nearing on beginning to scale back a massive bond-buying program on the back of the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, and hinted at an interest rate lift-off possibly next year.
- The United States on Wednesday called on countries around the world to commit to vaccinating 70 percent of the global population against the novel coronavirus by next September, while vowing to donate an additional 500 million vaccine doses to poorer nations.
- Japan will provide 30 million additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine to other countries as part of international efforts to ensure fair access to the life-saving shots, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Thursday.
As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22
- The Bank of Japan on Wednesday kept its ultraeasy monetary policy intact to help the economy weather curbs to combat COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions in Southeast Asia.
- The Asian Development Bank on Wednesday trimmed further its growth prospects this year for developing and newly industrialized Asian economies to 7.1 percent as lingering concerns over the coronavirus pandemic persist in the region.
- The J-League is considering allowing fans with proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or negative test results to attend games in addition to the number of spectators permitted under its current cap, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - September 11~17
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