New COVID-19 Cases Up for 11th Straight Week in Japan
New COVID-19 cases reported from about 5,000 regularly monitored medical institutions across Japan have increased for the 11th consecutive week, health ministry data showed Friday.
Category: Coronavirus
Japan’s weekly COVID-19 cases rise for 10th straight week
The average among the roughly 5,000 medical institutions stood at 11.18 in the week, with the total number of patients increasing to 55,072, 1.39 times the figure the previous week, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare data revealed.
Noto Quake Death Toll to Reach 300 with 18 More Indirect Deaths
The death toll from the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan is projected to reach 300 as 18 more indirect deaths are expected to be recognized. The 18 cases include the deaths of a COVID-19 patient and an elderly person who lost physical strength while hospitalized.
Japan Fair Trade Commission Issues Cease-And-Desist Order To Travel Agencies Over Transporting COVID-19 Patients
The Japan Fair Trade Commission on Thursday issued cease-and-desist orders to JTB Corp. and three other travel agencies in a bid-rigging case over a municipal project to transport COVID-19 patients.
It is the first time the antitrust watchdog has issued such an order over a project related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the watchdog and other sources, the project to transport COVID-19 patients from their homes to accommodation facilities was ordered by the northeastern city of Aomori. The five companies colluded to decide in advance which of them would win five related tenders between April 2022 and March 2023, while agreeing that the winner would outsource some operations to the others.
Anti-Infection Measures Still Needed in Japan 1 Year after COVID Downgrade
In line with the COVID-19 downgrade in May 2023, Japan stopped counting all COVID-19 cases nationwide and began receiving COVID-19 case reports from about 5,000 designated medical institutions.
According to the health ministry, the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the week through April 21 declined for the 11th consecutive week.
Japan Govt to Take Coordinating Role in Future Pandemics “to lessen the impact on social and economic activities”
The draft plans seek to take infection prevention measures flexibly to lessen the impact on social and economic activities while calling on local governments and hospitals to sign accords to conduct pandemic response drills in ordinary times.
No Public Aid for COVID-19 Medical Services in Japan from April
Japan will no longer provide public aid for medical services related to COVID-19 from April, the health ministry officially announced on Tuesday.
After the end of the public aid, patients will be asked to pay 10 to 30 pct of COVID-19 drug costs out of pocket under the country’s health insurance system. Hospitalization subsidies will also be scrapped at the end of this month.
COVID-19, Flu Cases Remain High in Japan
Both novel coronavirus and influenza cases remain high in Japan, prompting experts to urge people to continue taking basic countermeasures such as the use of face masks, hand-washing and ventilation.
According to the data, new COVID-19 cases reported in the week to Feb. 11 stood at 13.75 per institution. By prefecture, Ishikawa in central Japan had the largest number, at 21.91, followed by Aichi, also central Japan, at 20.06.
Disability News Japan Podcast: Ishikawa experiences medical woes after quake, supply shortage and infections a concern
Nine people at evacuation center in Ishikawa were infected with norovirus and two people were infected with the new coronavirus.
They were all in the same evacuation center. After receiving treatment at the hospital, he was placed in isolation.
Japan to Introduce Routine COVID-19 Vaccinations for Elderly
A special group of the Japanese health ministry Wednesday approved a plan to change COVID-19 vaccinations into routine inoculations for people aged 65 or older in fiscal 2024.
Barrier Free Japan 