20200715 (Wednesday) Coronavirus Digest from Japanese Morning TV News Part 1 (of probably 1): Main News

See photo captions for stories.

Photo 01
Covid-related headlines:
– Theater cluster infections confirmed in the provinces too
– Government considering whether it needs to request business closures
[but this supposed “topic/headline” is literally one final quote at the end of the whole corona-segment]

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332 new cases today.
No new deaths.
The vast majority of cases centered on Kanto.
20 in Osaka
And Hokkaido has put up its first 8 in a while.

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143 in Tokyo.
[It was only a couple of weeks ago that we were wondering what kind of steps they would take if cases rose above 50, but it seems that over 100 is very much the New Normal.]

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So far, 37 cases have been confirmed from the theater cluster.

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The show was on 12 times in a six-day period
[Capacity was just under 100 people per show, I believe]

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They are calling for 850 production staff, cast and audience to take PCR tests.

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An audience member says the chairs were not that widely spaced. If you moved your legs, a person could pass down your row.

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Cases have been confirmed in audience members after they travelled back to Shimane, Aichi, Gunma, Tochigi, Kanagawa and Chiba

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The Gunma case was a woman in her 20s who works at a nursery school.

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She watched the play on the 5th.

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71 staff and kids have been identified as subsequent close contacts.

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The prefecture will carry out PCR tests on all 71.

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[This is a pic of a different theater just to give a sense that, much like live houses, many Tokyo theaters are small spaces for struggling thesps. Size constrained by exorbitant rent and limited audience interest, limited ventilation is an issue — can’t really open windows…

This part of the segment was mainly about how other theater groups are getting nervous that they may be asked to close again, having been closed for two months in April and May already, but if the places look like this, then maybe that’s not such a bad idea.]

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Moving on now.

Apparently, one person in Tokyo who was informed they have tested positive subsequently couldn’t be reached by phone when the health center called them back to make arrangements (for hospital, isolation, etc.) 

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Koike: We would like people who have tested positive to be in a position to be contacted.

[Can you imagine Cuomo reacting to the same situation? “Hey asshole, pick up your damn phone.”] 

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Meanwhile, there has been a change in infection trends
[cue color filter change…] 

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Somebody connected to.the.Tokyo metropolitan govt: “Incidences of infections have started to rise in families, in workplaces and even in facilities that children attend.”

[Is that supposed to be someone’s head or a crystal ball on a table?] 

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“We need to be more cautious than ever.” 

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“Although the situation is different from the sudden rise in infections in April…” 

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“…compared to two weeks ago, when the proportion of cases in the night entertainment districts was high,…”

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“…I think the trend is beginning to change.”

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Meanwhile the panel of experts met yesterday for their weekly discussion of the situation:
“There is also a rise in the proportion of cases whose origins cannot be traced in detail.” 

SY: I love the guy with the inadvertent cloud hat.

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Panel: “It cannot be denied that there is starting to be a rise in infections that are not tied to any one particular location or region.”

[This formulation: “it cannot be denied / we have to admit… ” is just a common phrase in Japanese and in general you shouldn’t read too much into it, but given all the denial that has happened so far, I think it is quite ironic that they would use it here where it could be taken quite literally: We can’t deny it (as much as we would really like to)] 

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The government says it would like to strengthen precautions against secondary infections spreading to groups such as old people 

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And it is considering whether it needs to request business closures for establishments that do not strictly follow the guidelines on infection prevention measures in Hostess clubs under Section 24 of the revised Special Measures law.