The pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease that began in 2020 completely changed people's lives around the world. It was an unprecedented crisis symbolizing the Reiwa Era.
Basic Knowledge
In December 2019, pneumonia of unknown cause occurred in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the new coronavirus was identified as SARS-CoV-2, and the disease was named COVID-19. On March 11, 2020, the WHO(World Health Organization) declared a pandemic(worldwide spread). In Japan, on April 7, 2020, a state of emergency(based on the Act on Special Measures for Preparedness and Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases such as Novel Influenza) was declared in seven prefectures and later expanded nationwide. Schools closed simultaneously(from March 2020), companies shifted to telework, and people were asked to refrain from going out and avoid the three Cs(closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings). The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed for the first time in history and held without spectators in July-September 2021.
December 2019 Pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan
January 2020 First domestic infection confirmed; WHO declares a PHEIC
March 11, 2020 WHO declares a pandemic
April 7, 2020 Japan's first state of emergency(Shinzo Abe Cabinet)
May 2020 Special fixed-sum benefit of 100,000 yen
February 2021 Vaccinations begin in Japan(starting with medical workers)
July-September 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics(without spectators)
May 2023 Reclassified as a Category V infectious disease
In Depth (Background and Impact)
The pandemic dealt a severe blow to the economy, especially tourism, restaurants, and food service. GDP recorded a postwar-worst decrease of 4.5% in fiscal 2020. At the same time, DX(digital transformation) accelerated. Online meetings such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams became widespread, and remote work became the new normal. Wearing masks became part of daily life, and terms such as droplet transmission, aerosol transmission, close contacts, and clusters became common. mRNA vaccines(Pfizer and Moderna) were developed faster than any previous vaccines, and vaccination began in Japan in February 2021. On May 8, 2023, COVID-19 was reclassified as a Category V disease under the Infectious Diseases Control Law(equivalent to seasonal influenza), and daily life almost returned to normal. Japan's cumulative COVID-related deaths numbered about 75,000(as of 2023).
- WHO pandemic declaration = March 11, 2020
- Japan's first state of emergency = April 7, 2020(Abe Cabinet)
- Three Cs = closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings
- Tokyo Olympics = July-September 2021, postponed one year and held without spectators
- Vaccinations began = February 2021(mRNA vaccines)
- Reclassification as Category V = May 8, 2023
- SARS(2003), MERS(2012), and COVID-19(2019-) are part of the coronavirus family
Points to Note (Easy to Confuse)
① SARS(2003), MERS(2012), and COVID-19(2019-) are all caused by coronaviruses but are different diseases. ② Distinguish pandemic(worldwide spread), epidemic(regional spread), and endemic(a disease constantly present in a region). ③ The Tokyo Olympics were scheduled for 2020 but postponed to 2021; they were held under the name "Tokyo 2020." ④ The state of emergency was based on the Special Measures Act and did not have the same coercive power as lockdowns in Europe and the United States(only limited penalties).
Practice
- On what year, month, and day did the WHO declare COVID-19 a pandemic?
- On what year, month, and day was Japan's first state of emergency declared?
- In what year and month was COVID-19 reclassified as a Category V disease under Japan's Infectious Diseases Control Law?