Skip to main content

New top story from Time: With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Japan Extends the Areas Under a State of Emergency

https://ift.tt/38c7DNy

TOKYO — Japan was set to expand its coronavirus state of emergency for a second week in a row Wednesday, adding several more prefectures as a surge in infections fueled by the delta variant strains the country’s health care system.

The government last week extended the state of emergency until Sept. 12 and expanded the areas covered to 13 prefectures from six including Tokyo. Sixteen other prefectures are currently under quasi-emergency status.

The government at a meeting of experts Wednesday proposed upgrading eight prefectures from quasi-emergency status to a full state of emergency. Those prefectures include Hokkaido and Miyagi in the north, Aichi and Gifu in central Japan, and Hiroshima and Okayama in the west.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]

The proposal was expected to be approved and formally announced later Wednesday.

Japan’s state of emergency relies on requirements for eateries to close at 8 p.m. and not serve alcohol, but the measures are increasingly defied. Unenforceable social distancing and tele-working requests for the public and their employers are also largely ignored due to growing complacency.

The Japanese capital has been under the emergency since July 12, but new daily cases have increased more than tenfold since then to about 5,000 in Tokyo and 25,000 nationwide. Hospital beds are quickly filling and many people must now recover at home, including some who require supplemental oxygen.

More than 35,000 patients in Tokyo are recovering at home, about one-third of them unable to find a hospital or hotel vacancies immediately. Only a small percentage of hospitals are taking virus patients, either for financial reasons or because they lack the capability to treat the infections, experts say.

Japan has weathered the pandemic better than many other countries, with around 15,600 deaths nationwide since the start, but its vaccination efforts lag behind other wealthy nations. About 40% of the population has been fully vaccinated, mainly elderly people.

Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, also in charge of the COVID-19 measures, said Wednesday that infections are spreading among those in their 20s to 50s who are largely unvaccinated. He urged them to take extra caution.

“Just imagine you may be the one getting infected tomorrow,” he said.

Rising infections among schoolchildren and teenagers could accelerate the surge as they begin returning to school after the summer vacation, said Dr. Shigeru Omi, top government medical advisor. He proposed schools curtail activity and urged high schools and colleges to return to online classes.

“Infections in Tokyo are showing no signs of slowing, and the severely tight medical systems will continue for a while,” he told a parliamentary session Wednesday.

The government has faced criticism for holding this summer’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics despite strong opposition from the public. Officials deny any direct link between the games and the spike in infections.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

'Happy birthday, Jason!' Kylie Minogue shares throwback Neighbours pics Kylie Minogue has shared a series of nostalgic photos of her and her old Neighbours flame Jason Donovan to mark his birthday.

via Entertainment News - Latest Celebrity & Showbiz News | Sky News https://ift.tt/2TZ14a2
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: ‘It’s a Catastrophe.’ Iranians Turn to Black Market for Vaccines as COVID-19 Deaths Hit New Highs

https://ift.tt/3AODY94 In January, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the sudden announcement that American and British-made COVID-19 vaccines would be “forbidden” as they were “completely untrustworthy.” Almost nine months later, Iran is facing its worst surge in the virus to date — a record number of deaths and infections per day with nearly 4.2 million COVID-19 patients across the country , and a healthcare system near collapse. “It’s a catastrophe; and there is nothing we can do,” said an anesthesiology resident in one of Tehran’s public hospitals who due to the current surge is tasked to oversee the ICU ward for COVID-19 patients. “We can’t treat them nor help them; so all I can ask people to do is to stay home and do whatever it takes to not get exposed.” The doctor requested anonymity in order to speak freely; others interviewed by TIME asked to be identified only by their first name. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The scale of the crisis is such ...
Post a Comment
Read more

FOX NEWS: Olympic gymnasts sound off on the evolving leotard: 'Power and prestige goes with those leos' The world may have grown accustomed to seeing Olympic gymnasts wearing leotards as they compete for the highest honor in the sport, but these garments haven’t always been the first pick for women.

Olympic gymnasts sound off on the evolving leotard: 'Power and prestige goes with those leos' The world may have grown accustomed to seeing Olympic gymnasts wearing leotards as they compete for the highest honor in the sport, but these garments haven’t always been the first pick for women. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/3BQEKE3
Post a Comment
Read more

FOX NEWS: Couple gets married at 'most beautiful' Taco Bell: 'It was the best of both worlds' Analicia Garcia, 24, and Kyle Howser, 25, from Sacramento, California, got married on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and had their reception at the famous Pacifica, California, Taco Bell.

Couple gets married at 'most beautiful' Taco Bell: 'It was the best of both worlds' Analicia Garcia, 24, and Kyle Howser, 25, from Sacramento, California, got married on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and had their reception at the famous Pacifica, California, Taco Bell. via FOX NEWS https://ift.tt/3ES5g0B
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: Myanmar Security Forces Open Fire on Protesters, Killing Several and Marking Deadliest Day of Protests

https://ift.tt/3uFmav3 YANGON, Myanmar — Security forces in Myanmar opened fire and made mass arrests Sunday as they sought to break up protests against the military’s seizure of power, and a U.N. human rights official said it had “credible information” that 18 people were killed and 30 were wounded. That would be the highest single-day death toll among protesters who are demanding that the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi be restored to power after being ousted by a Feb. 1 coup. “Deaths reportedly occurred as a result of live ammunition fired into crowds in Yangon, Dawei, Mandalay, Myeik, Bago and Pokokku,” the U.N. Human Rights Office said in a statement referring to several cities, adding that the forces also used tear gas, flash-bang grenades and stun grenades. “We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters,” its spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani was...
Post a Comment
Read more

Innovation to Icon: 150 Years of Cable Cars Exhibit Opens

Innovation to Icon: 150 Years of Cable Cars Exhibit Opens By Jeremy Menzies We are happy to announce the opening of a special history exhibit at the San Francisco Public Library, as part of the ongoing celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the cable cars . The “Innovation to Icon: 150 Years of Cable Cars” exhibit runs from July 1 to September 30 on the 6th floor of the public library’s main branch library at 100 Larkin Street. 150 years strong, San Francisco’s cable car system is a symbol of the city.  "Innovation to Icon: 150 Years of Cable Cars" takes a visual journey through time that brings the incredible history of San Francisco’s beloved cable cars to life. Combining photographs, original documents, and unique memorabilia from the San Francisco History Center and the SFMTA Photo Archive, this exhibit showcases the spirit, ingenuity and timeless allure of a city icon.   Cable cars once dominated the transit scene in San Francisco. This 1890s shot was taken at M...
Post a Comment
Read more

New top story from Time: ‘I Can Be Someone I Didn’t Have.’ Actor Simu Liu on Asian Representation and His Marvel Future

https://ift.tt/3ad9HoX A Chinese-Canadian actor as the face of a Marvel superhero franchise? That’s not the world Simu Liu grew up in. But that’s the world Liu is making this year. “ I can be someone I didn’t have as a kid ,” the actor tells TIME100 Talks He’s talking about the upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , the first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie starring a hero of Asian descent, due out in July. The Kim’s Convenience actor will play the titular character, Shang-Chi. And—as his comment suggests—it’s been a long time coming. “ I loved comics as a kid, I loved superheroes, but I really didn’t see myself represented in that space,” he says. “I really hope with this movie, kids who are like me, who grew up similarly, can have that. That’s really the power of representation: seeing yourself on screen and feeling like you’re a part of this world, which for Asian children who have grown up in the West hasn’t always been the case.” Liu’s leading-man s...
Post a Comment
Read more

ABVP Man Clones Currency Replacing Mahatma Gandhi's Image with Nathuram Godse's in MP

The activist who identified himself as Shivam Shukla while uploading the post on Facebook hailed his hero: 'Long Live Nathuram Godse' to mark his 111th birth anniversary on May 19. from Top India News- News18.com https://ift.tt/2zuMDDR
Post a Comment
Read more

Celebrating 150 Years of Cable Cars

Celebrating 150 Years of Cable Cars By Jeanne Brophy Powell Street Cable Cars Looking Down Powell Street Towards Sutter Street San Francisco’s iconic cable cars are turning 150 this year, and we’re throwing a party to celebrate! Today the SFMTA is kicking off a series of events that mark this sesquicentennial by offering residents and visitors a chance to learn more about the rich heritage and cultural significance of the cable car. The six-month celebration will take a journey through time and help people rediscover the allure of these cherished, moving city landmarks. Since their invention, cable cars have woven their way into the fabric of San Francisco, becoming a beloved symbol of the city. As part of the 150th anniversary celebration, unique "ghost" cable cars from vanished lines will make a remarkable return. Discover the craftsmanship behind these engineering marvels with the first-ever public tours of the Muni shop (video) where cable cars are built and maintai...
Post a Comment
Read more

Towing in San Francisco Explained

Towing in San Francisco Explained By Melissa Culross The sight drivers never want to see. You’re walking to your car, ready to jump in, when you look around and get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. The car is not where you left it. Have you forgotten where you parked? Has it been stolen?   And then you realize that it has been towed.  At the SFMTA, we understand that retrieving a towed vehicle is expensive and inconvenient. You’re charged towing and administration fees, and if your car is at the impound lot for more than four hours, you are responsible for storage costs, as well. However, it’s important to remember that San Francisco streets are a shared public space, not anyone’s private parking spot.   SFMTA parking control officers may tow vehicles that cause a hazard or block transit lanes, fire hydrants or driveways. Towing when it’s necessary keeps our streets safe and accessible to everyone, but ultimately, the SFMTA wants to help people av...
Post a Comment
Read more