Is it wise for Japan not to call a Lockdown?

Is it wise for Japan not to call a Lockdown?

Covid-19: Japan No Lockdown

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Japan has confirmed covid-19 cases recorded at 2384 as of April 2nd, but still not on lockdown. Many question whether this is a smart move as the novel coronavirus has proven infectious and has a considerable fatality rate particularly among the elderly.

Situation can quickly turn for the worse, as in the case of Italy and  New York where death toll have risen and the health care system overwhelmed. When these territories did declared a lockdown, it was when the situation had already made a sharp turn for the worse.

Despite the heavy public criticism, Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe refuse to call for a national emergency and city lockdown.

The Japanese government, instead enact several ways to curb the outbreak such as the temporary shut down of schools, urging people to prevent social gatherings, wearing of mask, washing of hands, and enforcing a travel ban on more than 70 countries.

Some argue that Japan is capable of containing covid-19 considering that they rank high in cleanliness and discipline. Yet, others claim their actions are not enough as there are lots of grey area such as the failure to observe social distancing as seen in tightly packed trains. 

Take a glimpse at South Korea, a nation which managed the disease without the need of a  lockdown. However, the state held two primary trump card on the fight against covid-19 which are mass testing and contact tracing. Both of which is not strictly enforced in Japan. There are those who fear that covid-19 cases is of much higher figure than it's current projection.

Further aggravating the situation is the fact that Japan has the largest population of senior citizens who could be badly affected should the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak get out of hand.

Shrouded in skepticism and controversy, the ensuing weeks will certainly reveal whether Japan is indeed on the right tract.