Japan is next to China, its population is old, its cities are crowded and it hasn't locked down. Yet both their infection rate (currently 1500 cases) and death rate (45 death, 0.3 per million) are the lowest among Western countries.
Germany also has a so far mysteriously low death rate, but its infected median age is 45 as compared to 63 in Italy. I am not sure the Japanese data on this, but in Italy they cross infected other parts of the hospitals thus other elderly and weakened people died in large numbers, that may explain the German situation.
But Japan hasn't even locked down. In NYC the subway probably caused the wide spread of the virus. In Japan people still widely use the subways but they might have better personal protection.
It is also possible that Japan is just late compared to other countries and in its early days of the spread having only 1500 or so cases. The Japanese are meticulous about cleanliness and personal hygiene, so that could help their situation. Still, we don't know why their case is different.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/world/asia/japan-coronavirus.html
“It’s either they did something right,” said Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, co-director of the University of Washington MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security, “or they didn’t, and we just don’t know about it yet.”
They aren't testing widely, and their numbers could erupt at any time later on.
“The risk is that things may be brewing underneath the surface that you don’t recognize until it’s also a little bit too late,” Dr. Shaman said."
I have a personal theory. Japan intake of iodine in food is the highest in the world. What is their immune system is much stronger than the average human's? Iodine has virus fighting abilities and I advise everyone to take it to fight the virus off. Or could this be just a cover up because of the Olympics?
Well, in the upcoming weeks we will hopefully get an answer.
Edit: Quotes from the article's comment section:
"An instagram friend who is a nurse in an elder care facility in Japan says they’re seeing lots of cases, and just calling them the flu. Japan’s tendency to pretend everything is fine works well in many situations but I’m afraid for them in this case. At worst, it’s the Japanese governments solution to the twin problems of economic decline and an expensive aging population."
"Japan was resistant to mass testing, criticizing S. Korea for its strategy. See how it played when the cruise ship Diamond Princess happened in its shore. Bribed WHO to not include the confirmed cases counted towards Japan so it could maintain its pristine "number"."
"In point of fact, like other countries, Japan has neither the testing capability nor the hospital capacity to deal with a sudden outbreak. The government's action was aimed at limiting demand and avoiding a potential panic when people discovered neither tests nor beds were available. Decisions were made on expedient, not medical, grounds - a constant problem with state-run health here."
If this is true, we will see an outburst of new cases and deaths soon.
Germany also has a so far mysteriously low death rate, but its infected median age is 45 as compared to 63 in Italy. I am not sure the Japanese data on this, but in Italy they cross infected other parts of the hospitals thus other elderly and weakened people died in large numbers, that may explain the German situation.
But Japan hasn't even locked down. In NYC the subway probably caused the wide spread of the virus. In Japan people still widely use the subways but they might have better personal protection.
It is also possible that Japan is just late compared to other countries and in its early days of the spread having only 1500 or so cases. The Japanese are meticulous about cleanliness and personal hygiene, so that could help their situation. Still, we don't know why their case is different.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/world/asia/japan-coronavirus.html
“It’s either they did something right,” said Dr. Peter Rabinowitz, co-director of the University of Washington MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness and Global Health Security, “or they didn’t, and we just don’t know about it yet.”
They aren't testing widely, and their numbers could erupt at any time later on.
“The risk is that things may be brewing underneath the surface that you don’t recognize until it’s also a little bit too late,” Dr. Shaman said."
I have a personal theory. Japan intake of iodine in food is the highest in the world. What is their immune system is much stronger than the average human's? Iodine has virus fighting abilities and I advise everyone to take it to fight the virus off. Or could this be just a cover up because of the Olympics?
Well, in the upcoming weeks we will hopefully get an answer.
Edit: Quotes from the article's comment section:
"An instagram friend who is a nurse in an elder care facility in Japan says they’re seeing lots of cases, and just calling them the flu. Japan’s tendency to pretend everything is fine works well in many situations but I’m afraid for them in this case. At worst, it’s the Japanese governments solution to the twin problems of economic decline and an expensive aging population."
"Japan was resistant to mass testing, criticizing S. Korea for its strategy. See how it played when the cruise ship Diamond Princess happened in its shore. Bribed WHO to not include the confirmed cases counted towards Japan so it could maintain its pristine "number"."
"In point of fact, like other countries, Japan has neither the testing capability nor the hospital capacity to deal with a sudden outbreak. The government's action was aimed at limiting demand and avoiding a potential panic when people discovered neither tests nor beds were available. Decisions were made on expedient, not medical, grounds - a constant problem with state-run health here."
If this is true, we will see an outburst of new cases and deaths soon.
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