Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

With all these provisions: if you've decided it would be a good idea to do, why not do it now? If it's a good idea now, it's going to be twice as good of an idea in three days. And it's going to be four times as good of an idea in six. Etc. Over and over again the organs of governments announce decisions that would be a good idea today that don't come into effect until a few days from now. Which means that the harm done will be doubled/tripled/... by the time the rule goes into effect.

I mean I don't like this. I think Japan is great and I'm an American so this is a little embarassing. But if the Japanese have decided this is good to do, they should have done it yesterday. The next best time would be today.

(I do wonder if it's not quite a bit too late for restrictions like this to be effective. Japan already has 1200 cases, and I have heard they have a US-like approach to testing -- that is, it's shit. Unless they are magically different from every other country, the disease is already spreading in communities there. They will ultimately be forced to take the same steps that all other countries have taken to stop the virus, and that includes controlling the movements not just of foreign nationals/Americans, but also their own citizens, into and out of the country.)

Re: Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

#6

Post by nopinsight » Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 3:14 AM UTC

Reconsidered my opinion:

I agree with a reply below. The primary determiner of how well a place responds to Covid seems to be their experience with SARS, and possibly other infectious respiratory diseases like TB.

Re: Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

#7

Post by mistermann » Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 3:14 AM UTC

I have a very bad feeling that Japan is going to be ravaged by this pandemic.

https://mobile.twitter.com/motokorich/status/124383121986899...

"Abe: “If an explosive spread of infection is already occurring right now, we cannot tell immediately. By time we have numbers in 2 weeks time, speed of rise in number of patients could no longer be controllable.” Yet he announced no specific measures to prevent this scenario."

Re: Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

#8

Post by whymauri » Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 3:15 AM UTC

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #5

With all these provisions: if you've decided it would be a good idea to do, why not do it now? If it's a good idea now, it's going to be twice as good of an idea in three days. And it's going to be four times as good of an idea in six. Etc. Over and over again the organs of governments announce decisions that would be a good idea today that don't come into effect until a few days from now. Which means that the harm d…

>The restriction applies even to Japanese nationals returning from the United States.

That's probably the answer. Some amount of heads-up is owed to Japanese nationals. A Taiwanese friend was in a similar situation w.r.t. Taiwan closing borders. Uncertainty of timeline and parameters can be incredibly disruptive for citizens trying to travel back to their home country. They might not have permanent lodging in the U.S. (students, tourists, visiting scholars/scientists and more).

Re: Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

#9

Post by duxup » Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 3:15 AM UTC

ridewinter wrote: post #4

Not too long ago a headline like this would be absolutely massive news. Now it barely even registers. Crazy times...

I like to think of it as a good indicator that people do often consider the circumstances rather than just have a knee jerk reaction.

Re: Japan set to ban entry from the U.S. as early as next week

#10

Post by modwest » Sun, Mar 29, 2020, 3:16 AM UTC

nopinsight wrote: post #6

Reconsidered my opinion: I agree with a reply below. The primary determiner of how well a place responds to Covid seems to be their experience with SARS, and possibly other infectious respiratory diseases like TB.

no