JANUARY SAW 10,000 COVID-19 DEATHS IN JAPAN

Sat 28 January 2023:

Japan has recorded more than 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 in January, the highest monthly tally since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday, citing prefectural data.

A total of 252 people died from COVID-19 in Japan over the past 24 hours, bringing this month’s total to the all-time high of 10,124.

Furthermore, some 54,800 new infections were recorded nationwide over the past 24 hours.

COVID-19 deaths have been on the rise in Japan since early December 2022. The pandemic claimed over 67,000 lives in total since 2020. In October, 1,800 people died from the disease, followed by over 3,000 in November and 7,600 in December. Meanwhile, people over 60 account for 97% of all COVID-related deaths.

Drop mask guidance, relax Covid strategy

Japan’s government will drop its recommendation to wear masks indoors and downgrade its medical classification for Covid-19, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday.

The changes, effective from early May, will classify the disease on the same level as the flu, down from its current status on par with tuberculosis and SARS.

“As for masking, regardless of indoors and outdoors, the decision will be left up to individuals,” Kishida told a televised government meeting.

“We will take further steps towards ‘life with corona’ and make steady progress on returning to normality in homes, schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods and all facets of life.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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