Pm Stresses Commitment To Fighting Virus Variants

PM stresses commitment to fighting virus variants

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says his government is responding with promptness to new strains of the coronavirus.

Suga told reporters on Monday that Japan had suspended entry of non-resident foreign nationals as a proactive measure to protect the people of Japan.

Sdf Nurses Sent To Osaka To Help With Virus Surge

SDF nurses sent to Osaka to help with virus surge

Seven nurses from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force are being sent to two medical centers in Osaka Prefecture to help deal with a surge in coronavirus infections at the request of the prefectural government.

A departure ceremony was held on Monday at Camp Itami of the GSDF's Middle Army in Itami City in Hyogo Prefecture.

Tokyo Games' Anti-virus Costs To Be Equally Shared

Tokyo Games' anti-virus costs to be equally shared

NHK has learned that costs of anti-coronavirus measures for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are likely to be almost equally shared by the Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan government.

The anti-infection measures for the Games are expected to be about 100 billion yen, or around 960 million dollars.

Health Minister On Record Serious Virus Cases

Health minister on record serious virus cases

Japan's health minister Tamura Norihisa says he has a sense of crisis over a record number of seriously-ill coronavirus patients across the country.

The number of patients being treated at intensive care units or with ventilators hit 472 on Monday, the highest ever.

Govt. To Subsidize Transport Firms To Fight Virus

Govt. to subsidize transport firms to fight virus

The Japanese government plans to subsidize operators of public transportation systems to help them introduce new anti-virus measures and cashless payment systems.

Operators of buses, railways and taxis are struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the financial difficulties, some of them are keeping their timetables unchanged so as not to inconvenience local residents as well as medical workers.

Govt. Mulls Strengthening Anti-virus Measures

Govt. mulls strengthening anti-virus measures

The Japanese government plans to step up measures toward the end of the year to fight coronavirus infections.

The government advisory panel on its coronavirus response on Wednesday called for stronger action for a short period of around three weeks. The panel said the government should ask people to refrain from moving to or from areas where the virus is spreading rapidly, if necessary preventive steps are not taken.

Tokyo To Raise Virus Alert Level To Highest One

Tokyo to raise virus alert level to highest one

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to raise its coronavirus alert level to the highest of four levels on Thursday. The COVID-19 outbreak is flaring up in the Japanese capital.

Infectious disease experts and doctors are scheduled to meet on Thursday to assess the current situation.

Experts Call For High Alert Over Virus In Tokyo

Experts call for high alert over virus in Tokyo

A panel of infectious disease experts has urged people in Tokyo to be on high alert for the coronavirus as a rapid increase in infections is just beginning.

Officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government and experts on public health and infectious diseases met on Thursday to assess the coronavirus situation.

Suga Calls For Strongest Vigilance Against Virus

Suga calls for strongest vigilance against virus

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has instructed his coronavirus taskforce to use all available means to prevent the spread of the virus, as the daily number of new cases increases ahead of the winter season.

Suga noted at a taskforce meeting on Tuesday that the national daily tally has exceeded 1,000 recently, and said the government needs to respond to the situation with the strongest sense of urgency.