Why is it not bigger in Japan?

[GameOfDrones]

I'm wondering how and why the stats are showing a relatively slow progress of the virus which I find strange. Considering its proximity to China and the tourism there, plus large numbers of people living in close proximity to each other in cities.

Are they in mega lockdown or something?

Japan and China are hardly close!! It's a 3 and a half hour flight from one to the other!

Distance is 1, 898miles according to Google.

They had warning. In China no one knew it even existed until it was way too late and the spread had begun. Everywhere else now is hyper vigilant and isolating at first opportunity, shutting schools etc. China didn’t have that luxury

It’s an island on its own nowhere near China...🙄! Delighted it’s showing relatively low numbers as in heading off the Japan in a few weeks and hoping we can still travel there.

Do you mean Hong Kong OP?

Don't forget a lot of their cases came from the cruise ship and a lot, if not most, didn't circulate with the general public and have left Japan.

They are also taking extreme measures. All schools have now closed until around Easter.

It seems to just be our govt that are refusing to take this seriously

Anecdotally, cleanliness is a big thing in Japan - think of the fancy toilets, showering then bathing, changing footwear as soon as you step indoors - I'm sure that supported the actual healthcare precautions, along with a comparatively healthy diet, higher general levels of fitness, etc.

The Japanese Government do seem to be taking it much more seriously than ours, and taking more drastic measures which perhaps are working. Ultimately I think our government cares less about the health of populace than the economy (obviously the two are linked) and i think they're worried about the economic hit if they put in place measures such as preventing big events and school closures (which have happened in Japan). I wish the UK government would act in a more precautionary way while they still have a chance of doing something that will prevent spread.

Japan and China don't get on particularly well so probably not as much traffic between the two countries. They get on better with S. Korea, but still political tensions. The spread in S Korea has been more recent though.

Japans schools are closed. People are working from home. These might be helping?

Japan don't test enough. There criteria for being eligible for a test is very strict. So people just can't get tested unless they have been to Wuhan and have fever over certain degrees for a few days etc. Im Japanese and follow the local news and the main view in media is that the government is trying to minimize the confirmed cases for many reasons including the olympics. They know that it's much much wider spread than they are publicly reporting. Hence the strict measures such as school closure. But still no testing offered to wider population like South Korea for example.

The Japanese Government do seem to be taking it much more seriously than ours, and taking more drastic measures which perhaps are working. Ultimately I think our government cares less about the health of populace than the economy (obviously the two are linked) and i think they're worried about the economic hit if they put in place measures such as preventing big events and school closures (which have happened in Japan). I wish the UK government would act in a more precautionary way while they still have a chance of doing something that will prevent spread.

The WHO had a press conference today and stated our government were doing what they expect of them and that our plans for increase in infections are also in line with what they would want to happen...

I think id trust their judgement to be honest!