Key words : coronavirus undetected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_10/
Japanese researchers say they think the coronavirus continued to spread undetected in Japan after the outbreak was thought to have been contained in May.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases earlier this week released the outcome of its detailed genetic analysis of the coronavirus. The samples were taken from people who contracted the virus in Japan to assess how it had spread across the country.
The researchers say the virus that started to spread in Japan in mid-March is the European strain, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and entered Japan via Europe. The outbreak caused by this strain appeared to be subsiding in Japan in May.
However, cluster infections started to occur across the country from mid-June onwards.
A genetic analysis of virus samples taken from these clusters found they were mutated versions of the European strain.
The researchers say no mutation in the pathogenicity of the virus has been confirmed.
The researchers say the findings suggest that the virus continued to be transmitted through asymptomatic carriers and those with light symptoms and reemerged in Japan in mid-June. They add that the virus may have spread beyond the Tokyo area when people were no longer being urged to refrain from traveling.
Key words : death rate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_09/
Researchers in Japan say the death rate of hospitalized coronavirus patients was 7.5 percent in the country. This is about one third of the COVID-19 death rates reported in Britain.
The National Center for Global Health and Medicine on Thursday released the result of its analysis on 2,638 coronavirus patients admitted to 227 hospitals nationwide between March and early July.
When hospitalized, 1,796 of them, or 68.1 percent, had mild or moderate symptoms. Most of the remaining had severe respiratory problems, with 22.9 percent of such people ending up on ventilators or ECMO machines. But 1.7 percent of those with milder symptoms also ended up on the machines.
Among those who were put on the machines, 67.7 percent were aged 60 or older. The researchers say relatively high percentages of those on machines had underlying diseases, with 36.8 percent of them having diabetes, 27.8 percent having high blood pressure, and 16.1 percent having hyperlipidemia.
The large-scale analysis on coronavirus patients was the first of its kind in Japan. The researchers say their data will be useful for the healthcare system to prepare to fight the virus.
They say they will continue to analyze the data to find factors that can lead to serious conditions, information that can be used to develop remedies, and long-term effects of the illness on patients.
Key words : Japanese household
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_16/
Official figures indicate that Japanese households may be recovering from the economic impact of COVID-19. Spending was down in June, but by a much smaller margin than the month before.
Figures from the internal affairs ministry show a contraction of 1.2 percent from the same month last year. That's the ninth-straight month of decline. But it was a significant improvement from May, when household spending dropped 16.2 percent.
Spending on package tours and theater admissions were down more than 90 percent. In contrast, the number for TV-set purchases was up 83 percent and 111 percent for tables and sofas.
The ministry officials say the government's assistance of 100,000 yen, or about 950 dollars, per person helped push those numbers higher.
In the meantime, working people received less money to spend in June than a year earlier. Cash earnings dropped 1.7 percent, to about 4,200 dollars. That was the third consecutive month of decline. Overtime and other additional income plunged 25 percent. Even so, the decline was not as steep as in May.
People working in consumer services, such as entertainment and restaurants, experienced the biggest drops.
Key words : Israel cutting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_17/
Startup firms in Israel are continuing to thrive despite the coronavirus pandemic. The country has long been nurturing companies developing cutting-edge technologies. Now, more Japanese firms are taking notice.
The Japan External Trade Organization compiled a report on Israel's startup industry.
JETRO estimates that investments in such firms totaled 5.5 billion dollars between January and July this year. That's up over 805 million dollars from the same period last year.
Investors are focusing on firms developing cyber security and related technologies as more people work from home. They are also targeting firms involved in telemedicine.
The chief of JETRO's Tel Aviv office says adopting the latest digital technologies is essential for Japanese companies to survive in the current business environment.
Ebara Masashi said, "It's a synergy. Israeli technology can help Japanese firms change their existing models and transform their businesses."
Key words : Africa
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_04/
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa is approaching 1 million, prompting the World Health Organization to urge nations there to step up their responses to the outbreak.
The African Union estimates total confirmed infections on the continent stood at over 992,000 on Thursday. South Africa made up the largest proportion at over 520,000 cases, followed by Egypt at more than 94,000 and Nigeria at roughly 44,000.
The WHO says the first members of its so-called surge team of more than 40 public health experts arrived in South Africa on Thursday to bolster the country's response to the virus. The team will work with national and provincial officials.
At a news conference on Thursday, WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said, "Lack of testing is leading to some under-reporting of COVID-19 cases."
She warned that life with the virus will continue for a long time as African countries have been easing restrictions on people's movements.
Moeti called on African governments to ramp up measures against the outbreak such as tracing virus carriers.
Key words : johns hopkins 19 million
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Key words : report Catherine Kobayashi election
More and more US voters are heading to the post office to exercise their civic duty. But one prominent American doesn't seem to approve of the practice. NHK World's Catherine Kobayashi explains.
Key words : hong kong two dozen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_01/
Two dozen people in Hong Kong have been charged with taking part in an unauthorized gathering after a June 4 vigil marking the deadly crackdown at Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.
That follows other arrests since China enforced a new national security law in the territory at the end of June to clamp down on anti-government activities.
Hong Kong police and other sources said those charged over the vigil include activist Joshua Wong and civic group representative Lee Cheuk-yan.
Police this year refused permission for the annual vigil for the first time, citing prevention of the spread of the coronavirus. But thousands of people gathered at a park and mourned the victims of the Tiananmen incident.
The group that organized the vigil in previous years said police used anti-infection measures as an excuse to try to stop the event. The group said people in Hong Kong have the right to hold demonstrate and that it is not afraid of crackdowns.
Key words : Kim monitoring
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200807_18/
North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un is monitoring the latest damage from severe flooding, including ordering supplies and swift restoration work.
The country's ruling party newspaper the Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday that Kim visited a flood-damaged village in North Hwanghae Province. It says more than 730 houses were flooded after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow their banks, destroying 179 houses. There were apparently no casualties, according to the paper.
During the visit, Kim ordered officials to provide daily necessities and medical supplies to hundreds of families. He also stressed the importance of responsibly conducting urgent recovery efforts.
North Korea experts say the report is meant to show Kim is standing by his people.
But it hasn't given a whole picture of the widespread damage.
Earlier, special heavy rain warnings for the province as well as Pyongyang and other parts of North Korea were issued.
Key words : weather Yoko Komagata
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