Coronavirus outbreak updates: Feb. 3, 2021

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.

• A team from the World Health Organization tasked with tracing the origins of the coronavirus in China on Wednesday visited a virus research laboratory in the city of Wuhan from which some have speculated the virus accidentally escaped.

As of 11 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2

• Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday the government aims to start COVID-19 vaccinations for health workers in Japan in mid-February, earlier than late February as previously targeted.
  
  
• The Japanese government on Tuesday extended the state of emergency covering Tokyo and other regions by one month to March 7, as hospitals remain under pressure despite declining coronavirus cases.
  
  
• People across Japan are expressing concern about the economic and social impact of the government's one-month state of emergency extension expected for Tuesday.
  
  Japan expressed concern Tuesday after the European Union recently tightened its export controls of coronavirus vaccines produced within the bloc, with a Cabinet minister indicating the move could affect the schedule for inoculations in the country.

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