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Photos: A surge in cases erodes Japan’s initial success against Covid-19

Coronavirus cases in Japan are at an all-time high as the country finds itself dealing with a resurgence of infections after what was perceived as a success in mitigation earlier in the year. The country recorded 1,464 new cases on August 1 according to the worldometers coronavirus tracker, nearly double the rate of daily cases in early April when the first wave was at its peak. Experts say a hasty opening aimed at getting the economy going may have been the undoing of gains made early on by the island nation.

Updated on: Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM IST

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Commuters wearing protective face masks cross a street in Tokyo on July 30. Japan garnered global attention after containing the first wave of Covid-19 with what it referred to as the “Japan Model” -- limited testing and no lockdown, nor any legal means to force businesses to close. But now the island nation is facing a formidable resurgence, with Covid-19 cases hitting records nationwide day after day. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

Commuters wearing protective face masks cross a street in Tokyo on July 30. Japan garnered global attention after containing the first wave of Covid-19 with what it referred to as the “Japan Model” -- limited testing and no lockdown, nor any legal means to force businesses to close. But now the island nation is facing a formidable resurgence, with Covid-19 cases hitting records nationwide day after day. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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People eat at an ‘izakaya’, or Japanese-style bar, in Tokyo’s Shimbashi area on July 31. Infections first concentrated in Tokyo have spread to other urban areas, while regions without cases for months have become new hotspots. And the patient demographic -- originally younger people -- is expanding to the elderly, a concern for a country with the world’s oldest population, Bloomberg reported. (Behrouz Mehri / AFP)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

People eat at an ‘izakaya’, or Japanese-style bar, in Tokyo’s Shimbashi area on July 31. Infections first concentrated in Tokyo have spread to other urban areas, while regions without cases for months have become new hotspots. And the patient demographic -- originally younger people -- is expanding to the elderly, a concern for a country with the world’s oldest population, Bloomberg reported. (Behrouz Mehri / AFP)

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People wearing face masks seen at Togoshi Ginza shopping street in Tokyo on August 1. While Japan declared a state of emergency to contain the first wave of the virus, it didn’t compel people to stay home or businesses to shut. That was ended in late May and officials quickly pivoted to a full reopening in an attempt to get the country’s economy back on track. Japan’s haste may have been premature, experts told Bloomberg. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

People wearing face masks seen at Togoshi Ginza shopping street in Tokyo on August 1. While Japan declared a state of emergency to contain the first wave of the virus, it didn’t compel people to stay home or businesses to shut. That was ended in late May and officials quickly pivoted to a full reopening in an attempt to get the country’s economy back on track. Japan’s haste may have been premature, experts told Bloomberg. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Beach goers stay within a roped off grid in Shimoda on July 30. “The government should have had a proper strategy to contain the transmission as promptly as possible,” Kenji Shibuya, a professor at King’s College London and a former chief of health policy at the World Health Organization told Bloomberg. “Japan is making things worse by just waiting and seeing.” (Kiichiro Sato / AP)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

Beach goers stay within a roped off grid in Shimoda on July 30. “The government should have had a proper strategy to contain the transmission as promptly as possible,” Kenji Shibuya, a professor at King’s College London and a former chief of health policy at the World Health Organization told Bloomberg. “Japan is making things worse by just waiting and seeing.” (Kiichiro Sato / AP)

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People wearing masks maintain social distance while hanging out near Shibuya pedestrian crossing in Tokyo on July 31. While people have continued to wear masks throughout the pandemic, the current infections have largely occurred in situations where face coverings aren’t typically worn, like group dining and drinking events. (Eugene Hoshiko / AP)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

People wearing masks maintain social distance while hanging out near Shibuya pedestrian crossing in Tokyo on July 31. While people have continued to wear masks throughout the pandemic, the current infections have largely occurred in situations where face coverings aren’t typically worn, like group dining and drinking events. (Eugene Hoshiko / AP)

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Social distancing markers are displayed on an elevator in the Roppongi district of Tokyo on July 30. The national government continues to argue that the situation this time is different. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga reiterated July 31 that another state of emergency isn’t required. The death rate in Japan remains low and country has fewer than 100 people in critical care due to Covid-19. (Shoko Takayasu / Bloomberg)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

Social distancing markers are displayed on an elevator in the Roppongi district of Tokyo on July 30. The national government continues to argue that the situation this time is different. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga reiterated July 31 that another state of emergency isn’t required. The death rate in Japan remains low and country has fewer than 100 people in critical care due to Covid-19. (Shoko Takayasu / Bloomberg)

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Workers disinfect seats at the Kabukiza Theatre on July 31 ahead of the resumption of Japan's traditional Kabuki theatre a day later in Tokyo. In a sign that the situation can no longer be ignored, local officials are starting to backtrack on economic reopening. Osaka has asked people to refrain from dining in groups of five or more. In Tokyo, restaurants, bars and karaoke shops have been asked to shorten operating hours. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

Workers disinfect seats at the Kabukiza Theatre on July 31 ahead of the resumption of Japan's traditional Kabuki theatre a day later in Tokyo. In a sign that the situation can no longer be ignored, local officials are starting to backtrack on economic reopening. Osaka has asked people to refrain from dining in groups of five or more. In Tokyo, restaurants, bars and karaoke shops have been asked to shorten operating hours. (Issei Kato / REUTERS)

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Museum staff pictured next to “Pop up flower” by artist Takashi Murakami at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo on July 30. Some however, think the steps don’t go far enough. Haruo Ozaki, the head of the Tokyo Medical Association, called on July 30 for the government to revise legislation to legally force businesses to close. “This is our last chance to mitigate the spread of infection,” he told Bloomberg. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Aug 02, 2020 7:29 PM

Museum staff pictured next to “Pop up flower” by artist Takashi Murakami at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo on July 30. Some however, think the steps don’t go far enough. Haruo Ozaki, the head of the Tokyo Medical Association, called on July 30 for the government to revise legislation to legally force businesses to close. “This is our last chance to mitigate the spread of infection,” he told Bloomberg. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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