Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21
- The global economy has recovered to a level seen before the coronavirus pandemic, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Tuesday, while noting unevenness among nations in the pace of recovery and a downside risk amid the spread of the Delta variant.
- The Japanese government is leaning toward lifting the COVID-19 state of emergency covering 19 prefectures including Tokyo at the end of the month as scheduled, government and ruling party sources said Tuesday.
- The average price of land in Japan as of July 1 fell 0.4 percent from the previous year for the second consecutive year of declines amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Tuesday.
- Japan will start administering third doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the elderly early next year, vaccination minister Taro Kono said Tuesday, as the country aims to better respond to the spread of more contagious variants.
- Pfizer Inc. said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine was safe and effective for children aged between 5 and 11 following clinical trials that showed participants had a strong immune response against the virus.
- Foreign nationals flying to the United States will be required to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus from early November, the White House said Monday, ending travel bans that have limited entry for foreigners from China, European countries and elsewhere.
As of 10 p.m., Monday, Sept. 20
- The Tokyo metropolitan government reported Monday 302 new coronavirus infections, its lowest figure in three months, as officials continue to request that people refrain from unnecessary outings despite the downward trend.
- The Japanese public appears split over hosting the Olympics again in the future, while nearly 40 percent of respondents think it was good that the Tokyo Games went ahead despite COVID-19, a private-sector survey recently showed.
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