After China where the coronavirus originated, as usual, other countries in East Asia were the first where the virus spread outside of China. But, those countries are used to viruses and they took it sort of easy. Japan didn’t close the country, or sent people into lock-downs, since it is unconstitutional there, or everywhere else for that matter. They eventually restricted movement and gatherings, but Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying to sound optimistic now, although after the first postponing, they are pushing restrictions until the end of August now.

Comments by Japan prime minister, Shinzo Abe

• Will keep event restrictions until the end of August for now
• There are fewer seriously ill patients related to the virus
• Current foreign entry rules to be extended until the end of August
• But to gradually allow re-entry of foreigners into the country with permission