As China appears to be getting a grip on the COVID-19 outbreak, there is mounting concern that Japan is now a hot spot, with health experts warning it could be a key indicator of whether this is going to be a global pandemic.
Neither the Japanese government nor the public should overreact to the outbreak since, as it has been warned in these pages, fear will only magnify a problem. More than anything else, the government must project competence and seriousness, ensuring public trust in and compliance with its policies. To date, that record is mixed and that is especially troubling given the potential consequences of this outbreak.
The coronavirus has infected over 77,000 people and claimed some 2,600 lives in China, along with thousands more infections worldwide. In Japan, more than 800 cases have been identified, with five deaths. A surge in infections here has convinced many observers that the Tokyo's response has been a failure. The rising number of canceled visits to Japan by tourists and business professionals and the readiness of countries to close their doors to visitors from Japan are proof of growing international concern about Japanese policy.