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The Scientist Who Saved Japan Once Battles a New Virus Surge

  • Hitoshi Oshitani’s plans helped Japan avoid deaths, lockdowns
  • Pandemic fatigue threatens approach amid jump in infections
Japan has recorded around 124,000 cases in total and the country.

Japan has recorded around 124,000 cases in total and the country.

Photographer: Soichiro Koriyama/Bloomberg
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Having mocked him at first for his theories on how the coronavirus spread, the world came to recognize the effectiveness of Japanese scientist Hitoshi Oshitani’s “Three C’s” approach to the pandemic: avoiding closed spaces, crowded places and close contact situations where the virus thrives.

It’s a strategy that’s helped Japan avoid thousands of deaths without a lockdown -- but one that’s now being challenged with infections rapidly escalating as cold weather sets in. Oshitani fears the nation may not be ready.