Okinawa hospitals forced to limit patients

Jun 03, 2021 | News On Japan

Jun 03, 2021 (NHK) - Hospitals in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa are moving to limit the number of patients they see or admit as the rapid spread of the coronavirus has caused a shortage of hospital beds.

In Okinawa, hospital beds for coronavirus carriers were 97.9 percent full as of Tuesday. Beds for other patients were 93.5 percent occupied.

Nanbu Medical Center & Children's Medical Center in Haebaru Town has declared itself in a state of emergency, and announced it will impose daily caps on outpatients and inpatients through June 20.

The center says hospitalization could be delayed depending on bed availability, and that patients in need of urgent care will be given priority.

Okinawa Chubu Hospital in Uruma City is limiting outpatients and hospitalizations through next Friday.

Yaeyama Hospital in Ishigaki City has canceled afternoon examinations for outpatients, while Okinawa Miyako Hospital in Miyakojima City has postponed non-urgent operations and tests.

All of Ishinomaki City Ordered to Evacuate as Rain Pounds Tohoku

An evacuation order has been issued for the entire city of Ishinomaki and parts of Marumori in Miyagi Prefecture as heavy rain caused by the autumn rain front disrupts transportation across the region, with a linear rainband potentially forming along the Pacific side of Tohoku through the evening.

Rail Disruptions Continue Across Kanto

Heavy rain caused by the autumn rain front continued to disrupt rail services across the Tohoku and Kanto regions on September 7, with parts of the Shonan-Shinjuku Line and other routes remaining suspended while some major Tokyo commuter lines returned to normal operations after running reduced services earlier in the day.

Typhoon No. 24 Nears Minami-Daito Before Weakening Into Tropical Depression

Typhoon No. 24 (Krovahn) was near Minami-Daito Island, about 300 kilometers southeast of Okinawa, as of 3 a.m. on September 7, moving east-northeast at about 10 kilometers per hour and expected to weaken into a tropical depression by the afternoon, although strong winds and high waves were forecast to persist before its remnants move north and potentially intensify the autumn rain front over western and eastern Japan later in the week.

Tokyo Unveils Design for Symbol Tree at Shinjuku Station

Tokyo has unveiled the design for a major redevelopment of the plaza outside Shinjuku Station's west exit, with a landmark tree, water-play area and event space planned as part of a transformation centered on "greenery, light and people" that is scheduled for completion in 2035.

Japanese Researcher Wins Ig Nobel Prize

A late former professor at Asahikawa Medical University has won the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for scientifically examining the proper way to blow the nose, extending Japan's streak of Ig Nobel winners to 20 consecutive years.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Two Dead, Three Hospitalized After Stabbing and Fire at Gifu Cake Shop

Police are investigating whether one of 11 people gathered at a cake shop in Motosu, Gifu Prefecture, was involved in a fire that left two people dead and three others injured on the night of September 5, after an emergency caller reported that someone had been stabbed and gasoline had been spread before the blaze broke out.

Prince Hisahito Turns 20, Pursuing Interest in Maps

Prince Hisahito, the only son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 20 on September 6, as he continues to take part in a growing range of official duties as an adult member of Japan's Imperial Family.

How Teens Get Pulled Into Dark Jobs

Young people recruited into illegal "dark part-time jobs" through social media and friends are increasingly becoming involved in fraud and violent robberies across Japan, with interviews at a juvenile training school revealing how the promise of easy money, a desire for recognition and fear of criminal groups can gradually leave them feeling unable to escape.

Serial Arsonist Targets Tokyo's Adachi Ward

Tokyo police are investigating the possibility of a serial arson spree after six suspicious fires were reported within about two weeks in the same neighborhood of Adachi Ward, leaving an 81-year-old woman with burns and damaging homes, political party posters, a vending machine and a bicycle.

Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Stabbing Girlfriend to Death

A 52-year-old restaurant operator was sentenced to 17 years in prison on September 4 for killing his former girlfriend by repeatedly stabbing her in the abdomen and back with two kitchen knives at his home in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture.

Drunk Chinese Man Who Ran Over Four Kids Admits Driving Without License

A Chinese man who received a suspended prison sentence and had his driver's license revoked after striking four elementary school students while driving drunk in 2025 admitted at his first trial on September 3 that he repeatedly drove without a license while still on probation.

Former Emperor's Funeral to Be Significantly Scaled Back

The Imperial Household Agency is considering holding a significantly scaled-down funeral for former Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, reflecting his wishes to minimize disruption to the lives of the public.

17-Year-Old Girl Arrested After Father Fatally Stabbed With Scissors

A 17-year-old high school girl was arrested in Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, on September 2 after allegedly stabbing her 49-year-old father in the neck with scissors during an altercation at their home, with the father later dying at a hospital.

< 2 3 4 5 >