Doctor: What happened in NY could happen in Tokyo

Apr 12, 2020 | News On Japan

Apr 12, 2020 (NHK) - A doctor in the United States has warned what happened in New York could happen in Tokyo.

Professor Robert Yanagisawa at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City issued the warning in an interview with NHK. Yanagisawa also serves as the head of the Japanese Medical Society of America.

He said medical institutions in New York have filled all vacant space with beds for patients and postponed non-urgent operations in response to the surge in coronavirus cases, affecting those suffering from other diseases.

Yanagisawa also said that medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, are managing to keep the hospitals functioning but just barely.

Yanagisawa compared the situation in New York in early March to the current situation in Tokyo.

He said what happened in New York could happen in Tokyo as the two cities have similarities in terms of people's behavior and population density.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has begun to transfer coronavirus patients with mild or no symptoms to a hotel to vacate hospital beds.

Yanagisawa said that the government needs to prepare a manual for hotel staff to prevent them from contracting the virus and introduce a video system to monitor patients online.

Earthquake Shakes Gunma and Saitama, Reaching Lower-5 Intensity

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck eastern Japan at around 7:46 p.m., with a maximum seismic intensity of lower 5 recorded in parts of Gunma and Saitama prefectures, though no injuries or major damage had been confirmed and there was no risk of a tsunami.

Massive LED Canvas Unveiled at Ueno Station

JR Ueno Station has unveiled "Ueno Canvas," a new 75-square-meter LED display featuring videos that highlight the area's cultural attractions, tourism destinations, and artistic heritage as part of a station renovation aimed at connecting people and the city through culture.

Six Ice Cream Makers Investigated Over Price-Fixing

Japan's Fair Trade Commission has conducted on-site inspections of six major food manufacturers over suspicions they formed a cartel to coordinate ice cream prices, with authorities investigating whether the companies exchanged information and unfairly adjusted planned retail price increases in response to rising costs.

Bear Family Spotted Near Kyoto Nursery

A parent bear and two cubs were spotted near an interchange in Kyoto Prefecture, just a few minutes' drive from a nursery school, in one of many bear sightings reported across Japan in recent days.

Royals Watch Japan-Netherlands World Cup Together

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched Japan's opening FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands together with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, highlighting the close ties between the Japanese Imperial Family and the Dutch Royal Family.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

32-Year-Old Master Devotes His Life to Stone Skipping

A stone-skipping tournament on the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture has drawn attention to 32-year-old Kosei Kigo of Nagoya, whose extraordinary dedication to the childhood pastime includes spending hours searching for the perfect stones, taking private coaching lessons, and competing against some of Japan's top athletes in pursuit of stone-skipping mastery.

Costco Food Poisoning in Nagoya Linked to High Roller Packs

More than 900 packs of the food linked to a food poisoning outbreak at a Costco store in Nagoya were sold over a two-day period, health authorities said.

The Dark Side of Influencer Accounts Exposed

Police in Osaka have arrested 41 men and women in a fraud case involving more than 600 million yen in suspected losses, uncovering what investigators believe was a scheme in which real influencer accounts were bought and used to impersonate their original owners and solicit followers into costly side-business programs.

How to Integrate 4 Million Foreign Residents Into Japanese Society

The number of foreign residents living in Japan surpassed 4 million for the first time by the end of 2025, reaching a record high and underscoring the increasingly important role foreign workers play in supporting the country's labor-short industries.

Former Sex Worker Gets Life for Orchestrating Murder

A court in Shiga Prefecture has sentenced a 29-year-old former sex industry employee to life imprisonment for the murder of a company president, the theft of his cash card, and the disposal of his body in Lake Biwa.

Hokkaido Charity Donations Go Missing

The Hokkaido Community Chest, which operates Japan's annual Red Feather Community Chest fundraising campaign, has revealed that approximately 180 million yen in donated funds are unaccounted for, with a senior official suspected of misappropriating the money over several years.

Japanese Imperial Couple Stroll Around Dutch Royal Villa

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who are visiting the Netherlands, took a stroll around the grounds of the Dutch royal family's residence where they are staying, revisiting places connected to a previous visit two decades ago.

Syrian Man Dies After Raft Capsizes in Gifu River

A 23-year-old Syrian man died after drowning in the Itadori River in Seki, Gifu Prefecture, on June 14th while enjoying a river outing with friends.

< 2 3 4 5 >