Tag - covid-19

 
 

COVID 19

BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 20, 2020
Yen near nine-month low as China moves to help coronavirus-hit firms
The yen traded near a nine-month low versus the dollar on expectations that China would continue to act to reduce the outbreak's economic impacts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 20, 2020
Coronavirus poses risks to fragile recovery in global economy, says IMF
The outbreak of new coronavirus COVID-19 has already disrupted economic growth in China, and further spread to other countries could derail a "highly fragile" projected recovery in the global economy in 2020, the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Feb 20, 2020
'Speed science' on new coronavirus carries risks
One scientific post suggests links between the new coronavirus and AIDS. A second says it may have passed to people via snakes. A third claims it is a pathogen from outer space.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society / Commentary
Feb 20, 2020
The ugly history of blaming ethnic groups for disease outbreaks
As the coronavirus outbreak grows in scale and scope, a nasty side effect spreads: discrimination. Inside China, people from Wuhan have been treated like lepers. Outside, we're seeing numerous reports of verbal and physical abuse aimed at ethnic Chinese, and an aversion to Chinese restaurants and other...
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 20, 2020
Minister Shinjiro Koizumi says he regrets skipping COVID-19 meeting
Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Wednesday expressed regret for skipping a government meeting on the coronavirus outbreak in favor of a new year party held by a group of his supporters in his hometown.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 20, 2020
Four key dates, four missed chances for China to contain coronavirus
It's been more than two months since Dec. 12, the day doctors first noticed a Chinese patient display symptoms of the highly infectious coronavirus that has claimed more than 2,100 lives across the globe. In the weeks following that early case, authorities missed one chance after another to contain the...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 20, 2020
As COVID-19 spreads, Takeda CEO urges more industry investment in vaccines
The spread of novel coronavirus infections is starting to make one thing clear: More vaccine investment is needed, the CEO of Asia's biggest drugmaker said.
BUSINESS
Feb 20, 2020
Spread of COVID-19 casts shadow over Japan's shuntō wage talks
The widening outbreak of the new coronavirus originating in China has started to affect annual shuntō wage negotiations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 19, 2020
Diamond Princess ordeal ends for passengers who tested negative for COVID-19
The evacuation began Wednesday of a cruise ship quarantined after an outbreak of new coronavirus COVID-19, with several hundred passengers who had tested negative being allowed to leave the ship.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 19, 2020
Expert stirs controversy with video on 'inadequate' virus controls on Diamond Princess
Controversy was stirred among the public and at the Diet Wednesday, after an infectious disease expert posted a now-deleted video online in which he claimed to have seen inadequate anti-virus contamination measures on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 19, 2020
WHO says no indication of COVID-19 cases in North Korea
There are no indications that there are cases of the new coronavirus in North Korea, a World Health Organization official said, despite South Korean media reports suggesting the outbreak had spread to the isolated country.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 19, 2020
In fighting outbreaks like COVID-19, Big Pharma struggles to get out front
Sanofi has joined the race to combat coronavirus as the outbreak is kindling fears of a pandemic. The question is whether its effort will prove more effective than some of Big Pharma's past attempts to tackle dangerous new pathogens.
BUSINESS
Feb 19, 2020
COVID-19 takes toll on students' job-hunting in Japan
While job-seekers are enjoying a seller's market due to severe labor shortages, many firms are busy coming up with measures to deal with the virus situation, including switching to online briefings.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Feb 19, 2020
Coronavirus outcomes range from pandemic to a new flu, experts say
It has already spread wider than SARS in 2003. It may not sweep the globe as swine flu did in 2009 but is more dangerous. It doesn't kill at anywhere near the terrifying pace of Ebola in 2014 but can be passed through the air.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 18, 2020
Take COVID-19, add a trade war and raise taxes: A recipe for disaster
Japan is facing a trifecta of challenges with severe economic consequences.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 18, 2020
Is political change coming to China?
The viral epidemic has come at the worst time, laying bare the weaknesses of Xi's rule.
JAPAN
Feb 18, 2020
Health ministry struggles to provide COVID-19 updates in foreign languages
The health ministry is struggling to keep non-Japanese updated on the rapidly escalating situation in a timely manner, hampered by a dearth of staff proficient in foreign languages.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami