National Jul 29, 2020
Japan dodged surge in total fatalities during peak virus month
by Gearoid Reidy
Japan officially recorded 468 coronavirus-related fatalities in May, almost half its total to date of 1,001.
National / Science & Health Jul 27, 2020
Japan to conduct its first nationwide coronavirus-linked mental health survey
The results are to be used at the local level to deal with the emotional fallout from the pandemic.
National / Science & Health Jul 22, 2020
Japan approves dexamethasone as second drug for coronavirus treatment
The inexpensive and easy-to-obtain drug is used to treat a wide range of conditions including lung disease.
National Jul 3, 2020
Japan ministry issues infection codes for COVID-19 contact tracing app
The codes allow users to be warned by their smartphones if they spent 15 minutes within a meter of someone infected in the past 14 days.
National Jun 23, 2020
Bugs force health ministry to halt Japan's virus contact-tracing app
The free app was launched Friday and had been downloaded around 3.71 million times as of Tuesday morning.
National Jun 19, 2020
Japan's coronavirus contact-tracing app launched amid privacy concerns
"It does not collect personal data at all. People can use it without worry," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in urging its use to curb the pandemic.
National Jun 1, 2020
The health ministry's check for "herd immunity" involves 3,000 randomly selected residents 20 or older in each prefecture who agree to be tested.
National / Science & Health May 28, 2020
As Japan reopens, coronavirus testing slowed by red tape and staff shortages
by Ju-min Park and Kiyoshi Takenaka
Health ministry technocrats wanted to maintain a tight grip on information rather than cooperate with private institutions, critics say.
National May 24, 2020
Coronavirus caseloads at Japan's hospitals easing, health minister says
It's another indication the government might lift the state of emergency for the Tokyo metropolitan area and Hokkaido on Monday.
National / Science & Health May 15, 2020
10,000 to be tested to see if Japan developing virus 'herd immunity'
The quicker tests will be conducted in certain regions rather than nationwide, the health ministry says.
National / Social Issues May 14, 2020
Paternity leave still not widely embraced in Japan, survey shows
With the number of male workers who take child care leave showing no notable growth, the government's goal of raising the share of eligible men taking such leave to 13 percent in 2020 remains far out of reach. According to a labor ministry survey for ...
National / Science & Health May 7, 2020
The new guidelines are also expected to say elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions should consult immediately if they develop relatively mild cold symptoms.