Japan has so far managed to avoid a coronavirus explosion as seen in other countries, but its efforts towards containing the virus raise the question: Will Japan manage to reduce the risk for infection to a level comparable to that of other infectious diseases, such as chickenpox or measles, that were once very common, too?
Such a scenario could materialize if a significant percentage of the population achieved herd protection against the disease. But is Japan close to reaching it?
This article examines the basic concept of herd protection or herd immunity and Japan’s progress towards it.