ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
 If the omicron wave in Japan is similar to that in other areas like New York, shown above, cases are not expected to decline until early February. (Source photo by UPI/Kyodo)
Datawatch

Japan COVID surge unlikely to ease until early February

Global data shows omicron waves take on average 27 days to peak

KENTARO TAKEDA, MINORU SATAKE and TAKESHI KUMON, Nikkei staff writers | Japan

TOKYO/LONDON/CAIRO -- Japan has seen COVID-19 cases spike as the omicron variant spreads. Major cities like Tokyo saw the first sharp increase in early January, much later than cities abroad. If overseas cases are any guide, the wave of Japanese infections is unlikely to peak until early February.

Omicron was first detected in South Africa last November. In the country's Gauteng Province where Johannesburg is located, the seven-day moving average of omicron cases more than doubled on a weekly basis on Nov. 17, marking the start of an uptrend. Cases in South Africa appeared to have passed their peak 31 days later after having dropped more than 10%.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more