This thread is for the general discussion of the News First Infection Of Novel Coronavirus In Okinawa. Please add to the discussion here.
The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of Okinawa.Org.
-
Looking to browse this site without ads? It's as easy as signing up for free!
DISCUSS First Infection Of Novel Coronavirus In Okinawa
- Thread starter News
- Start date
February 14, 2020 @ 1748 -- Naha City Mayor, Mikiko Shiroma, announces a new coronavirus management headquarters. Urges citizens to be careful and not to worry.
February 14, 2020 @ 1811 -- Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, reports that the taxi driver is in stable condition and they are conducting health and wellness observations on potential contacts that the taxi driver may have had after becoming physically ill on February 5, 2020.
February 14, 2020 @ 1918 -- Seven elderly welfare centers will be closed for up to two weeks amid the news of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) appearing in Naha City in order to prevent the transmission among the people more likely to be affected.
February 15, 2020 @ 0700 -- As discussed by Governor Tamaki, 15 non-stop flights between Okinawa and 5 Chinese cities per week have been canceled as well as 50 of 87 flights between Naha International Airport and Shanghai. Additionally, the ports closed off to cruise ships meant to also dock in Naha, Okinawa; Nakagusuku, Okinawa; Ishigaki Island, Okinawa; and Miyako Island, Okinawa. This is all in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Okinawa.
I was under the impression that either the company or government of Okinawa knew that there was a passenger that disembarked in Hong Kong which tested positive for COVID-19 on January 25th, days prior to the passengers disembarking in Naha on February 1st.
Source: Princess Cruises: Diamond Princess Coronavirus & Quarantine Updates - Notices & Advisories
And on the February 1st:
Source: Naha goes on high alert, days after visit by virus-hit cruise ship | The Japan Times
From what I recollect, they couldn't stop them from getting off in Naha because 'there was no law in doing so' (loosely translated talk).
Now; now, you want to cancel flights and cruise ships from entering because of possible further transmission of the novel coronavirus in Okinawa? Except... you're worried about the economic impact it'll have and not reaching the goal of exceeding 10,000,000 million tourists to Okinawa in 2020?
I think someone's priorities were misdirected on the 1st and they are still somewhat misguided now as the people of Okinawa should have had protection against this thing from the beginning.
Maybe, had common sense been used, COVID-19 would've appeared in Okinawa much later, or perhaps, not at all—at least closer to the possibility of reaching a vaccination first, perhaps?
Scary stuff all around. I hope they find a vaccine soon.
Last I heard, there was a vaccine made. It was also made in under 3 hours after the genetic sequence was released, which is quite amazing with the advancement of medical/biotech (without getting into conspiracy theories behind COVID-19).
The problem is human trials and testing along with FDA red tape to get it on the market quickly enough.
Third world countries (and I don't mean third as in poor) might not have the same problem as the US will have and could quite possibly get it out quicker, with, of course, their population being guinea pigs for the US to speed up their approval process.
It could still take months to get to the market. Months that some may not have if you observe the infected to death linear graphs of the coronavirus epidemic.
BBZ
New member
unless you are old and or unhealthy already I don't see a problem. avoid touristy places, wash hands frequently and if you do get sick, get to the hospital immediately. as of right now there are 8,263 that had it and recovered .
Having said that, I don't think they actually took this seriously in the beginning, and only worried about money. what they did or did not do is irrelevant, looking back and placing blame is stupid
Having said that, I don't think they actually took this seriously in the beginning, and only worried about money. what they did or did not do is irrelevant, looking back and placing blame is stupid
This seemingly doesn't appear to be the case, though. While a lot are elderly, some aren't immunocompromised and are in their teens to mid 30s, with a 36 year old being the youngest confirmed to succumb to the virus and a newborn getting infected with coronavirus after birth.
This and avoiding contact with your face without washing up is probably something everyone can agree on.
I don't quite think so. I might've come off as placing blame, but that wasn't my intended meaning behind it.
The reason the passengers were allowed to disembark the Diamond Princess in Naha was because there was no law allowing officials to keep them aboard or to turn them around. However, the governor cut the cruises and flights off today. What changed in the law between February 1st and February 15th?
While that may be the case now, it doesn't mean it will be the case two months from now as more and more "outliers" (I say outliers as they are the minority of what you did mention) will pop up. Furthermore, I believe that this is just the beginning, in Okinawa, and around the rest of the world, too.
With cases appearing in Egypt and Africa today, all that we know about the virus is out the window.
Such as the case with temperature. It was believed that in hotter weather, it'd be blown over. But, the spread in Singapore clearly debunked that as it lies on the equator.
I don't think we can definitively say that it only affects the old or immunocompromised more than healthy people until there are more facts and statistics shared from China. This is because doctors and other medical workers in full protection are becoming ill from the Wuhan coronavirus, and they're not the oldest, either. It is debatable whether they came in contact with it prior to their official duties, though.
A Harvard professor says that the spread of COVID-19 is just beginning and gathering steam as well. I tend to lean with his opinion until statistics are more transparent to say otherwise.
I'm not here to fearmonger or scare, but, just present the facts as they come out.
The only thing the rest of the world can do is lay in wait.
Hopefully, everyone can be hygienic in the meantime while the anti-virus is being developed, tested, and distributed as this thing has already surpassed nearly the total of deaths of both MERS and SARS combined. This is even with its low fatality rate of 2% compared to MERS and SARS at 36% and 9.6% respectively: the concerning part is the unknown with the addition of the incubation period of COVID-19. So, it's not something to be taken lightly in my opinion.
Sadly, I think that's true unless China starts to share more information with the rest of the world, or if more than 2 deaths occur outside of China.
Let's hope no more deaths occur, and let's hope for a speedy recovery of the taxi driver here as well as no more infections in Okinawa to follow.
However, I hope the Government of Japan and Okinawa government is taking this seriously and it's on their radar now.
We're not in the clear yet, though! I was hoping that today would've been our last day (14-day incubation period, but that is said to be up to 24 as well) and we were going to be okay, at least from the Diamond Princess cruise incident. Then, be able to ride it out more until a vaccination is developed and approved for human use. Though, that doesn't appear to be the case...
A great first step was made to close off the ports and flights, essentially cutting Okinawa off.
So, it's pretty safe to say that Okinawa might be able to slip on through the mess that may or may not arrive in the coming days and months of the unknown.
Well, there goes this and a new theory added that people are probably ignoring the advice of a good 20-second washing after touching surfaces too...
February 15, 2020 @ 2220 -- Government of Japan to accelerate testing and treatment measures amid a potential "domestic epidemic" as COVID-19 has reportedly spread to 11 of the 47 prefectures in Japan, to include Okinawa, with the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare stating that outbreaks are inevitable in the future.
February 16, 2020 @ 0900 -- Other taxi drivers and citizens that are concerned about whether they may be infected and asymptomatic shows the poor state that Japan and Okinawa are in as only the Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environment in Okinawa can carry out such tests for COVID-19 at a rate of 9 per day, which is roughly the same as other prefectures.
BBZ
New member
Pretty sure Japan is crapping their pants right now, not because of the virus but sadly because of how much money they stand to lose if this thing does not clear up prior to the Olympics in June. As for Okinawa, I get a sense of lip service.
You're likely right on that one.
Okinawa is already feeling the impact after the direct flight cancelations and closure of ports to cruise ships.
I believe that I picked up that revenue is already estimated to be down 30% on Kokusai Street alone; I can't imagine the impact this may have on the Olympics. However, that could be a combination of factors to include fewer tourists, public hysteria, and obeying suggestions from high authorities, like all cultured Japanese do, of 'only going out to restaurants [etc.] when necessary'.
Create an account or login to comment
You must be a member in order to leave a comment
Create account
Create an account on our community. It's easy!
Log in
Already have an account? Log in here.
