Coronavirus outbreak update: Feb. 22, 2021

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

 

As of 11 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22

• Aichi Prefecture said Monday it had asked the central government to be released from the coronavirus state of emergency before its scheduled end on March 7, while Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures also decided to make similar requests.
  
  
• Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho on Monday spoke of his frustration at missing the January Grand Sumo Tournament after contracting the novel coronavirus, while remaining hopeful of a memorable return at the upcoming March meet.
  
  
• A Japanese expert from the World Health Organization, who visited Wuhan earlier this month, voiced skepticism about China's insistence that the novel coronavirus had originally intruded into the country from abroad through a cold chain.
  
  
• Tokyo reported 178 new daily coronavirus infections Monday, the first time the count has fallen below 200 since Nov. 24 last year.
  
  
• The Japan Sumo Association imposed the second most severe punishment on stablemaster Tokitsukaze on Monday, recommending he retire for violating coronavirus protocols when he made nonurgent, nonessential outings during a basho
  
  
• Japan is considering introducing waiting lists for COVID-19 vaccinations to avoid waste, the minister in charge of inoculation effort said Sunday as the country prepares to expand the program's scope.
  
  
• Over 30 Japanese athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics, or are still vying for their spots, have yet to receive their international classifications due to the pandemic and potentially could be ruled out of competing this summer, Kyodo News learned Sunday.

As of 11 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21

• Fujifilm Holdings Corp. is considering restarting a clinical trial in Japan for its anti-viral drug Avigan in treating COVID-19 patients, company sources said Sunday, after the government held off approval of the drug late last year.
  
  
• Australia began a COVID-19 immunization campaign on Sunday, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison being among the first to receive Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine ahead of a broader national rollout on Monday.
  
  
• Inoculations of Japan's elderly against the novel coronavirus will start in April as planned but at a slower pace, the minister in charge of the inoculation rollout said Sunday as the country received its second shipment of Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine.

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