Information concerning the spread of the novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19)
In Japan as well as in other countries, the effects of the spread of COVID-19 are becoming serious. I think that even young people see various pieces of information in the mass media such as TV, radio and newspapers, as well as on web media and social media etc. through the internet and smartphones. However, how can you be sure that you get really reliable information about such a topic?
I see the reports in the national newspapers I subscribe to as well as NHK and commercial broadcasters, but my main sources of information are various websites. In particular, I obtain information regarding the primary materials on scientific knowledge and policy responses, including data referred to in various media from websites, as follows: the government of Japan (especially the Prime Minister’s Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), local governments (especially Tokyo, Osaka and Saitama), the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Japan Medical Association and WHO (the World Health Organization). Among these, NHK’s “Special Site: Novel Coronavirus”, the Cabinet Secretariat’s “COVID-19 Information and Resources” and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s “About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” serve as portal sites.
From the perspective of multicultural coexistence, the website of the Cabinet Secretariat is linked to the English and Chinese pamphlets published by the Prime Minister’s Office, but this is not always sufficient. In this regard, concerning the novel coronavirus, the English and Chinese versions of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; the English, Chinese, Korean, and easy Japanese editions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; and the website of CLAIR (the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) may be useful for citizens who are not native speakers of Japanese.
In addition to the above websites, I always read the personal website of Professor Shinya Yamanaka (the Nobel Prize winner) entitled “Shinya Yamanaka’s novel coronavirus information transmission”. In particular, I think it is a must-see for the sections “Information classification according to the strength of evidence”, “5 recommendations” and “What’s new” which are posted on the site.
Based on the information presented on these websites, I find that I am able to grasp and contemplate the current situation regarding the spread of COVID-19, and making active choices as an individual. Writing this essay is one of those active choices.
(Note) Of the websites referred to in the text, the following can be read in English:
Cabinet Secretariat
https://corona.go.jp/en/
CLAIR,
http://www.clair.or.jp/tabunka/portal/info/contents/114517.php
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare,
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html
National Institute of Infectious Diseases,
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/2019-ncov-e.html
Osaka Prefectural Government,
http://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp.e.agb.hp.transer.com/kikaku/osaka-corona/index.html
Prime Minister’s Office,
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/
http://japan.kantei.go.jp/ongoingtopics/_00017.html
Saitama Prefectures,
https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/foreignlanguage/index.html
Tokyo Metropolitan Government,
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/tosei/tosei/news/2019-ncov.html#Eng
https://stopcovid19.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/
WHO, “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic,”
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
These URLs were accessed on August 28, 2020, and different to those mentioned on the Japanese website.
(Author: Akira Yokoyama)
This essay is the English version of No. 135, April 7, 2020 on the Japanese website.