Japan should aim to eliminate covid -19

Abstract

Compared with other G7 countries, Japan has been relatively successful in mitigating the spread of covid-19. 1 However, Japan has the second worst record in the Western Pacific region, with over 40 deaths per million population over the course of the crisis. 1 Japan entered a second state of emergency in January 2021 2 following an exponential rise in confirmed cases of covid-19. 1 A clear, consistent exit strategy is now critical.

Reconsider this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic games

“…Unlike other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has not yet contained covid-19 transmission 5. Despite its poor performance,6 Japan still invokes exceptionalism and continues to conceptualise covid-19 within previous planning for pandemic influenza 5.…”

“…Unlike other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan has not yet contained covid-19 transmission 5. Despite its poor performance,6 Japan still invokes exceptionalism and continues to conceptualise covid-19 within previous planning for pandemic influenza 5. The second state of emergency in the Greater Tokyo area was lifted in late March7 despite early indications of a resurgence and an increase in covid-19 patients with variants of concern, which have now spread across Japan 89…”

“…The country’s limited testing capacity and sluggish vaccine rollout6 have been attributed to lack of political leadership 5. Even healthcare workers and other high risk populations will not have access to vaccines before Tokyo 2020, to say nothing of the general population.…”

“…Even healthcare workers and other high risk populations will not have access to vaccines before Tokyo 2020, to say nothing of the general population. To properly protect athletes from covid-19, Japan must develop and implement a clear strategy to eliminate community transmission within its borders,5 as Australia did before the Australian Open tennis tournament.…”

“…Waiving quarantine for incoming athletes, officials, broadcasters, press, and marketing partners10 risks importing and spreading covid-19 variants of concern. While international spectators will be excluded from the games,11 cases could rise across Japan and be exported globally because of increased domestic travel—as encouraged by Japan’s official campaigns in 2020 51213. Entrants will be asked to download Japan’s covid-19 contact tracing app,10 but this is known to be unreliable 14…”