A station passageway is crowded with commuters wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus during rush hour in Tokyo (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Japan reached a record for the third straight day at 2,418. Japan, with fewer than 2,000 deaths related to the coronavirus, has been relatively successful at containing the damage from the pandemic with social distancing and the widespread use of masks. But worries are growing about another surge over a three-day weekend. Prime minister Yoshihide Suga has been aggressive on keeping the economy going while balancing health risks. Spots popular for holiday travel, such as the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, have seen Covid-19 cases jump recently.

Source: Irish Independent November 21, 2020 06:33 UTC