Japan has miraculously broken its record for COVID cases in a single day after two and a half years of COVID restrictions, masking, and mass vaccination campaigns.
According to the latest data, on July 21, Japan saw a record number of COVID cases — 186,156 in a single day, and now has a 114,417 seven-day daily COVID case average (also a record for Japan).
As of July 13, the country reportedly has 11,679 COVID hospitalizations and 747 people in intensive care.
All of this is despite 82.22% of all Japanese people being fully vaccinated, over half of the population being boosted, and the country being one of the most heavily masked on the planet, even outdoors.
As such, it’s possible that Japan could see a fresh batch of lockdowns in the near future, especially given the fact that the government chose to extend its lockdowns last year in August when COVID case counts were supposedly much lower.
This is bad news for Japan, which is usually a global hotspot for tourism.
According to a recent update from Japan-Guide, Japan reopened its borders to travellers on June 10, but only to those who agree to follow a guided tour with a predetermined itinerary that’s organized by a travel agency or operator while in the country.
Moreover, travellers must spend two weeks in a country that’s on Japan’s “blue list” (a country where the risk from COVID-19 is considered low) before entering, and travellers must adhere to “basic infection prevention measures,” such as public masking and disinfecting hands, while there. A negative PCR test is also required for entry.
Again, to say Japan’s recent record is miraculous is an understatement, given all these restrictions for travellers and the public’s continued compliance with COVID rules that aren’t even being enforced anymore (for the most part).
