World
‘Toothless’ Japan Lockdown Sees Tentative Signs of Success
- Virus cases are rising but Japan yet to see ‘explosive’ surge
- PM Abe has said Tokyo cases could reach 80,000 by early May
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With Japan in its second week under a state of emergency, the latest data suggests that a “lockdown” without legal power has still been able to contain citizens’ movements somewhat, offering some tentative encouragement for the country’s bid to slow the coronavirus.
From GPS data to train station usage, the latest figures show people’s movements have slowed since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a month-long emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures. While infections are still on the rise, with cases now totaling around 8,000, the nation has so far still avoided the “explosive” surge seen in some other countries. Mortality from the virus remains puzzlingly low.