Why is Japan still a coronavirus outlier?

[user1477391263]

www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/03/21/commentary/japan-commentary/japan-still-coronavirus-outlier/?fbclid=IwAR2ENZga2wb3-qW548v4i7jql3yy1T5_Gjmpzb_4Dv_zZ5CLi6gBnqTVmlc#.XnYiYS09zoB Dense cities, geographically close to China, not a huge amount of restriction. Surprisingly slow rate of increase. Testing here has not been very proactive, to be sure. But there has been a sharp drop in seasonal flu this year compared to usual years, suggesting that less is being transmitted in general, so I have no doubt that some of this is "real."

I live in Japan, and have my theories but to be honest, even those of us living here are a bit baffled by this. Are we waiting for the storm to hit, or has Japanese society hit on "something" which limits the virus's spread?

Because they are purposefully not testing as much as they should do, as they really, really do not want to have to cancel the Olympics.

It’s an absolute disgrace.

This is a country that cleans its schools with rags and water. Who do they think they’re kidding?

Just was going to say because of the olympics

They wear masks, don't shake hands or kiss cheeks to greet each other and handwashing is instilled in children from an early age.
I think people in the uk are generally careless about basic hygiene.

I agree that's part of the story, but I don't think it can be the whole story. We are not seeing hospitals under pressure. I think it would be hard to keep hospital pressure hidden for long-even China couldn't cover it up for ever. And the big decreases in seasonal flu are noteworthy. Something seems to be going onit's just not obvious what it is.

"I agree that's part of the story"--the limited testing, I mean.

The thing is, countries limiting testing to try and look good are going to fall flat on their faces sooner or later because their case fatality rate will quickly start to look terrible.

Even if they didn't test they would still have the number of dead climbing.

The mask wearing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, to be honest @endofthelinefinally. They are constantly handling the masks, taking them off and putting them on again. I even once saw someone drop a mask on the train floor and pick it up and put it on again.

I agree, mask wearing can be a risk to the wearer due to handling it etc, but still protects other people from droplets.

The thing is, countries limiting testing to try and look good are going to fall flat on their faces sooner or later because their case fatality rate will quickly start to look terrible.

Definitely. This is what’s happening in Iran and the US.

Interesting point about the flu numbers in Japan being down as well. I wonder what’s driving that? A better vaccine? Did less people travel around recently in last 6 months so there was less spread of germs? And if so, what’s the cause of that— economic slowdown perhaps?

There have been stories in Japanese local news about how the current guideline is that the bodies died from pneumonia are not given a Coronavirus test. And the staff handling those bodies getting infected and refusing to handle them without a full protection gear.

Whistle blowers in hospitals coming out one by one with all these disgraceful procedures the government have been putting in.

Isn't Japanese society very good at doing as instructed, so people would be following these rules and observing hygienic practices too?
As you're there maybe you can confirm/refute this?