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Having read all the mtg logs, tweets, press conf materials of the Japanese govt's #COVID19 task force/experts panel over the past weeks, it is striking to see how much foreign media have, unfortunately, failed to effectively depict Japan's science-based strategy. 1/n
Since, the end of Jan, the Japanese panel of experts has consistently advised the govt to focus on cluster identification and contact tracing as well as limiting the testing to those who are connected with the cluster. 2/n
Reposting the English thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1241734715175993345.html
Reposting the English thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1241734715175993345.html
By the end of Feb, the govt set up a Cluster Response Team in MHLW, which identified the 3 pillars of its policies:
1) early identification of clusters & response
2) early diagnosis of patients, enhancing intensive care & securing medical service sys for those in severe cond
3/n
1) early identification of clusters & response
2) early diagnosis of patients, enhancing intensive care & securing medical service sys for those in severe cond
3/n
3) changing residents' behaviors
(similar to Hong Kong and Singapore's approach)
By Mar 19, it released the three principles--"the 3Cs"--based on its Cluster Response Team's analysis to prevent further creation of new clusters, and published them in multiple lang. 4/n
(similar to Hong Kong and Singapore's approach)
By Mar 19, it released the three principles--"the 3Cs"--based on its Cluster Response Team's analysis to prevent further creation of new clusters, and published them in multiple lang. 4/n
Even after a number of detailed press confs, however, it appears that foreign media continued to report Japan's low cases/death rate as a "puzzle" without diving deep into the government policies/reports. See for example NYT's story: 5/n https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/world/asia/japan-coronavirus.html
This story/thread was informative, but does not effectively provides the answer. It could have reached out to one of the members of the panel of experts to hear about the govt's approach to identify clusters 6/n https://twitter.com/GearoidReidy/status/1240573658734592001?s=20
This story also adopts the widely spread narratives that Japan has a lower number of cases/deaths because of the fewer testings, social norms and culture of social distancing, and lower sense of security... 7/n https://www.businessinsider.com/why-japan-cases-of-coronavirus-are-so-low-2020-3?r=US&IR=T
Part of the problem could be the failure of the Japanese govt to effectively convey their strategy to reporters and its people, which is critical for success. Some reporting suggested that much Japanese youth was unaware of the government's 3C advice. 8/n
Because these foreign media coverages were translated into Japanese, and were reported back to the Japanese people, it might have given the wrong kind of impression to them that Japan is "safe." 9/n
