https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/09/16/national/omi-coronavirus-restrictions-rebound/
Japan’s top COVID-19 adviser Shigeru Omi said Thursday that the peak of the fifth coronavirus wave has largely passed, but warned that a close eye must still be kept on the country’s overburdened medical system.
Speaking to the House of Councilors’ health committee, Omi attributed the downtrend in infections to a “combination of factors,” namely the progress of vaccinations, reduced foot traffic, suspension of alcohol in dining establishments and high rate of mask-wearing.
But he cautioned that hastily easing anti-pandemic restrictions on people’s lives could lead to a “sixth wave” of infections, especially with colder weather approaching.
“We should be aware that the number of hospital beds (for COVID-19 patients) will not increase five to sixfold all at once,” Omi said, as he called on the government to speed up the construction of temporary medical facilities.
With the medical system still under strain from an influx of COVID-19 patients, much of Japan will remain under a state of emergency through Sept. 30. Government data shows slightly over half of Japan’s population has been fully vaccinated so far against COVID-19.
Average number of new infections reported each day in Japan falls by more than 16,200 over the last 3 weeks, 70% of its previous peak
COVID-19 infections are decreasing in Japan, with 6,828 new infections reported on average each day. That’s 29% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on August 28.
There have been 1,664,626 infections and 17,059 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began.
That’s a very quick turn-around from Japan … 
