Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
As of 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16
- Unique vending machines selling frozen food ranging from slices of fish to Swiss rolls have been gaining popularity in northern Japan, providing a new source of income for pandemic-hit businesses while allowing customers to purchase goods without the risk of contracting COVID-19.
- Low-cost carrier Peach Aviation Ltd. will offer an unlimited travel pass that will allow holders to take any of the airline's domestic flights for one month in an effort to revive the tourism industry hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
- The United States will require coronavirus vaccination for foreign nationals traveling to the country starting Nov. 8, the White House said Friday, ending entry restrictions against non-U.S. citizens from China, Europe and some other countries that were introduced in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
As of 11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 15
- Over 99 percent of residents aged 12 and over in Australia's capital region have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, officials said Friday, putting Canberra on course to become the most vaccinated city in the world.
- Japan's government said Friday it will boost the country's medical system to allow for 1.2 times more cases of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients compared with this summer's fifth wave of infections when many people were forced to recuperate at home.
- People whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus said Thursday they are hoping for government policies that improve work conditions and bring business back to pre-pandemic levels as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the House of Representatives for an Oct. 31 general election.
As of 11 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14
- The Yomiuri Giants said Thursday that vaccinated fans and those with negative COVID-19 test results would be allowed to attend games for free as part of the government's drive to ease restrictions placed on the public.
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday his government will outline its coronavirus response on Friday, the day after he dissolved the House of Representatives for a general election.
- Japan's vaccination minister Noriko Horiuchi on Thursday inspected the National Institute of Infectious Diseases as part of efforts to propel the country's coronavirus vaccination program to cope with a possible rebound of infections.
Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - October 9~15
Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan
- Health ministry call center
COVID-19: 0120-565-653 (toll free)
COVID-19 Vaccines: 0120-761-770 (toll free)
-Interpreters available for English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; for Thai 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; for Vietnamese 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Health ministry's COVID-19 Vaccine Navigation website
https://v-sys.mhlw.go.jp/en/ - 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)