Coronavirus outbreak latest: Feb. 4, 2021

Here are the latest updates from Japan and beyond on the coronavirus outbreak:

As of 11 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4

A Japanese comedian has decided not to take part in this year's Olympic torch relay, saying remarks by the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee to hold the Summer Games in any state of the coronavirus pandemic are "incomprehensible."
An expert from the World Health Organization tasked with tracing the origins of the novel coronavirus in China has argued it is difficult to imagine it was leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, Russia's state-run media reported Thursday.
With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled to open a year from Thursday, concerns are growing over another wave of novel coronavirus infections in China, along with the threat of a games boycott by some countries over human rights issues.
Many nonregular workers at large companies in Japan have not received compensation from their employers despite being forced to take leave amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, prompting Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to vow Thursday to end such discriminatory treatment.
A scaled back Sapporo Snow Festival opened online Thursday, revealing the four ice statutes featured in this year's coronavirus pandemic-hit event, normally one of Japan's largest winter celebrations.
The number of crimes recorded in Japan in 2020 hit the lowest level in the postwar era for the sixth straight year, with a sharp decline in street crime as people stayed home during the coronavirus pandemic, police data showed Thursday.

As of 11 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3

An aquarium in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan, has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to feed its world-leading collection of jellyfish as it struggles to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The death toll from coronavirus infections climbed to over 6,000 Wednesday in Japan, increasing the pace of rise amid concerns over the strain on the country's medical system, a tally based on data released by authorities showed.
China said Wednesday that it has decided to provide 10 million doses of novel coronavirus vaccines to emerging nations under an international framework designed to guarantee equitable global access to them.
Japan's parliament on Wednesday enacted laws that will introduce fines for people and businesses that do not comply with restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on the employment and daily lives of foreign workers in Japan, despite their number hitting a record high of around 1.72 million in 2020.
Tokyo reported Wednesday 676 new daily coronavirus infection cases, with the count staying below the 1,000 mark for the sixth straight day.
Sony Corp. on Wednesday raised its net profit outlook for the year through March to 1.09 trillion yen ($10 billion) due to stronger-than-expected sales in gaming, music and other segments amid the coronavirus pandemic.