National | ANALYSIS Mar 2, 2021
Tokyo area nears end of emergency, but virus data has gaps
by Ryusei Takahashi
An unknown number of cases may have gone unreported due to strained resources, bureaucratic missteps and temporary policy changes.
World Feb 28, 2021
U.K.’s variant trackers led the way. Now others are following.
by James Paton
The COVID-19 Genomics U.K. Consortium has become a global model for analyzing genomes for signs that the coronavirus is gaining power to spread — or to kill.
National Feb 23, 2021
Concerns mount over contact tracing app for foreign Olympic fans
Questions have been raised over the app being developed to track visitors' whereabouts during the games due to its hefty cost and the amount of work left to do.
National / Science & Health Feb 1, 2021
Glitches and design flaws limit value of Japan's COVID-19 tracing app
by Tomohiro Osaki
As a third wave of infections overwhelms contact tracers at public health centers, many are leaning more heavily on the state-developed COCOA app. But is it up to the task?
Asia Pacific Feb 1, 2021
Governments exploit COVID-19 tracing data for other uses, risking backlash
by Jamie Tarabay
In Singapore, public support for a contact tracing app took a hit after authorities disclosed in January that police had used the app’s data in a murder investigation.
National | FOCUS Jan 19, 2021
Access denied: Virus third wave forces hand of Japan's medical system
by Tomohiro Osaki
“The fact that there are people dying after being sent home to recuperate is testament to the severity of the situation we’re in,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters.
National Jan 8, 2021
Osaka stands by COVID-19 tracing app that sent six alerts in seven months
by Osamu Tsukimori
With alerts limited to infectious contact, and no obligation to flag positive status, high volumes of messages were never expected, though the prefecture is working on enhancements.
World / Science & Health | FOCUS Nov 21, 2020
At churches, on cruise ships and even in the White House, superspreading events that can sicken dozens, even hundreds, of people have illustrated the potential for the coronavirus to infect in dramatic bursts. Experts say these large clusters are more than just extreme outliers, but ...
World Nov 4, 2020
Contact tracers eye cluster-busting to tackle COVID-19's new surge
by Tim Loh
As the pandemic worsens in the U.S. and Europe, an approach that has seen success in Japan gains interest.
National Sep 25, 2020
Japan considers facial recognition for contact tracing at big events
The government also hopes to improve the national capacity to conduct saliva-based polymerase chain reaction tests.
World / Science & Health Aug 19, 2020
'Test and trace' crucial but won't beat coronavirus alone, study says
Testing for COVID-19 and tracing the prior contacts of those found to be infected are crucial measures for slowing the disease's spread, but inadequate unless combined with other measures, researchers said Wednesday. By itself, the test-and-trace approach can reduce the virus's reproduction rate, or R ...
World Aug 5, 2020
Local governments in U.S. 'overwhelmed' in race to trace COVID-19 contacts
by Benjamin Lesser, Dan Levine, Jaimi Dowdell and Andrea Januta
Many city and county departments say they lack the money and staff to expeditiously identify people who have been exposed.