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Asia Today: Tokyo sets virus case record as holiday begins

TOKYO (AP) — The city of Tokyo announced a record 366 new daily coronavirus cases on Thursday, exceeding 300 for the first time as Japan begins a four-day weekend with many people joining a tourism promotion campaign that the government is pushing despite concerns of a new wave of infections nationwide.TOKYO (AP) —

The city of Tokyo announced a record 366 new daily coronavirus cases on Thursday, exceeding 300 for the first time as Japan begins a four-day weekend with many people joining a tourism promotion campaign that the government is pushing despite concerns of a new wave of infections nationwide.

The number of daily cases in Tokyo had fallen to just several in late May after the government ended a national state of emergency but have climbed steadily since late June, with the number tripling in the first three weeks of July. Tokyo now has 10,420 confirmed cases, including 327 deaths.

“Please be mindful of your actions and do your utmost not to get infected, and not to infect others,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Thursday.

Koike on Wednesday asked residents to stay home as much as possible during the long weekend, even though Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government has gone ahead with a “Go To” tourism promotion campaign that excludes Tokyo for now to help the badly hit tourism industry.

Though he said he was “increasingly alarmed” by the spike in cases, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura defended the tourism campaign. He said travel itself did not increase the risk of infections as long as basic safety measures were taken such as wearing masks and washing hands.

“Please do not go out if you cannot take these measures,” he said.

Until recently, officials have said most cases were limited to younger people linked to nightlife entertainment districts, but experts at a Tokyo task force meeting on Wednesday said infections have spread to older people and to regular homes, workplaces and restaurants.

Tokyo hospitals are also on the brink of running out of space. The city, which earlier allocated 1,000 beds for coronavirus patients, has asked hospitals to secure up to 2,800 beds, but preparations are taking time and beds are filling up quickly. Koike said the city is also in the process of securing hotel rooms for less sick patients.

Three prefectures neighboring Tokyo — Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba — also recorded record daily cases on Wednesday for a combined total of 170. Osaka also had a daily record of 121. Nationwide, Japan had 775 new confirmed cases Wednesday, the largest daily increase since 720 on April 11 during an earlier peak, for a national total of 27,029 cases. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

— India added 1,129 deaths to its coronavirus toll after including a southern state's unreported fatalities. India has the seventh-most confirmed deaths in the world with 29,861. Health experts have warned that India likely has more deaths than reported because some states used varying criteria to categorize deaths. Thursday's increase includes 444 previously unreported fatalities in Tamil Nadu, as well as 685 deaths nationwide reported in the last 24 hours.

The Health Ministry also reported a record 45,720 new cases, taking total confirmed infections to 1,238,635. Many states are reimposing or considering lockdowns. Late Wednesday, Kashmir announced a complete five-day lockdown in areas where infections are spiking. A two-day complete lockdown also started Thursday in the eastern state of West Bengal.

An Indian fruit vendor wearing face mask to protect from the coronavirus uses a plastic sheet to cover from rain in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 23, 2020. India receives its monsoon rains from June to September. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)© Provided by Associated Press An Indian fruit vendor wearing face mask to protect from the coronavirus uses a plastic sheet to cover from rain in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, July 23, 2020. India receives its monsoon rains from June to September.

(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)— Wearing masks became compulsory in Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, as hot spot Victoria state posted 403 new cases and five deaths. Much of the spread is blamed on sick workers who do not take time off from their jobs while they wait for coronavirus test results.

The wait for those results has usually been two days. The state government announced Thursday that workers who do not have sick leave will be eligible for a one-time support payment of 300 Australian dollars ($213) while they await test results.

— Hong Kong’s daily coronavirus cases hit a record high of 118 on Thursday in a renewed wave of infections that has hit the city since the beginning of the month. Of the new infections, 111 were locally transmitted, of which authorities unable to trace the source of 51. Hong Kong now has a total of 2,250 confirmed infections, including 14 deaths.

To combat the spread in the community, the Hong Kong government has made masks compulsory on public transport and in public indoor areas. Health officials have urged people to stay home as much as possible, especially the elderly and those with underlying conditions. Social distancing measures have also been tightened, with gatherings of more than four people banned. Gyms and amusement parks are shuttered, and restaurants can only operate at limited capacity.

— Malaysia will make wearing masks mandatory in crowded public areas and on public transportation from August to prevent flareups in coronavirus infections. Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Thursday that those who fail to comply will face fines of 1,000 ringgit ($235). He said virus cases appear to be creeping higher, with many people and businesses lax in observing social distancing and health safety measures.

Daily infections have risen to double digits since Malaysia reopened its economy last month after weeks of lockdown. Most restrictions have been removed, but nightclubs and karaoke clubs remain shut and mass gatherings are still banned. Malaysia has reported 8,840 cases, including 123 deaths.

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus walk outside Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, July 23, 2020. There were few bare faces among rush-hour commuters in Australia’s second-largest city on Thursday morning as Melbourne residents were largely complying with a new law making face coverings compulsory.

Reference: Associated Press: 1 day ago: 23rd July 2020

Boris Johnson refuses to back WHO chief after US claims China 'bought' his election

Boris Johnson has refused to back the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) after Washington claimed he had been “bought” by China.Boris Johnson has refused to back the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) after Washington claimed he had been “bought” by China.

The prime minister’s spokesman also swerved a question about whether the UK believed the election of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had been “rigged” – as alleged by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state.

Instead, he said the government was pushing for “reform” of the WHO, although – unlike Donald Trump – not withdrawing funding.

No 10 was asked for its stance after Mr Pompeo’s explosive claims that the organisation is responsible for “dead Britons” because of its failures over coronavirus and is “political, not science-based”.

The comments are widely seen as an attempted smokescreen for the US’s own blunders in response to Covid-19, which have led to the world’s highest death toll.

Johnson dismisses Russia report row as 'Islingtonian Remainer' plotAsked if Mr Johnson has “full confidence” in Dr Tedros, his spokesman said only: “The prime minister believes the WHO and its director general are playing an important role in leading the global health response to the pandemic.

“But, as I said, the UK continues to be an advocate of reform in WHO to be sure it can respond as quickly as possible to global health emergencies.”

Mr Pompeo’s outburst came at an event hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, foreign policy think tank, on Tuesday, according to multiple sources present.

It was the latest in a string of attacks by the Trump administration, which has branded the organisation a “puppet of China” and of letting the crisis spin “out of control” at the cost of many lives.

However, it was the first time that Mr Pompeo is known to have suggested the director-general had been “bought” by Beijing, as The Times reported.

He is understood to have implied that Dr Tedros’s election to the role in 2017 led to “dead Britons”, because its leader failed to force China.

One Labour MP who was present, Chris Bryant, said afterwards: “In my heart, I wanted to say that a lot of Americans were dead because of Donald Trump’s lies about the virus.”

Mr Pompeo’s comments came after he and Dominic Raab held talks on “shared global security and foreign policy issues, including China’s actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang,” where there is alleged abuse of the Uighur Muslims.

They also discussed the importance of the Five Eyes alliance, the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, “working together on the technologies of the future” - a reference to ending the reliance on Huawei and other Chinese ch firms.Mr Raab, the foreign secretary, insisted the UK government would not be pushed into a tougher position by Washington.

“I don’t think there is any question of strong-arming – Mike and I always have constructive discussions,” he said at a press conference.

Reference: Independent: Rob Merrick 2 hrs ago: 22nd July 2020

US to pay Pfizer, BioNTech $1.95 billion for 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses

Pfizer Inc and German biotech firm BioNTech SE will get $1.95 billion from the U.S. government to produce and deliver 100 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate.Pfizer Inc and German biotech firm BioNTech SE will get $1.95 billion from the U.S. government to produce and deliver 100 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

The agreement allows the U.S. government to acquire an additional 500 million doses, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense said.Pfizer will deliver the doses if the product receives

Emergency Use Authorization or licensure from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, after completing demonstration of safety and efficacy in a large Phase 3 clinical trial.undefined vaccine is seen as crucial to tackle the pandemic and governments across the globe have signed deals with drugmakers to secure dosages of their vaccine candidates.

Pfizer and BioNTech are among a handful of companies that are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine for Covid-19, caused by the new coronavirus. Their vaccine candidate has shown promise in early-stage small studies in humans.Pfizer's shares rose 4%, while BioNTech's U.S.-listed shares were up about 6% before the bell.

Reference:  NEWS WIRES 1 hour ago: 22nd July 2020

Systemic Racism Still Exists In Dermatology - These Are The Pros Campaigning For ChangeSystemic 

This year's Black Lives Matter movement against racial inequality has rightfully ricocheted throughout the world. There's work to be done across the board, of course, but the beauty industry is beginning to recognise just how much it still has to do to affect meaningful change within its ranks, to tackle its historical lack of diversity and the huge part it has played in systemic racism.

This year's Black Lives Matter movement against racial inequality has rightfully ricocheted throughout the world. There's work to be done across the board, of course, but the beauty industry is beginning to recognise just how much it still has to do to affect meaningful change within its ranks, to tackle its historical lack of diversity and the huge part it has played in systemic racism.

Scrutiny has, in recent years, lasered in on such issues as Caucasian-focussed foundation shade ranges, a lack of diverse representation within ad campaigns, and a consistent dismissal of black-owned brands by larger retailers. But, somehow, skincare hasn't been so under the microscope.

And racism spreads far beyond simply the products we see on the shelves. Skincare routines are more often than not founded on the recommendations, for example, of clinical trials that included only white participants.

So, whether it's shamefully narrow clinical trials, whitewashing of imagery, the limited terminology used when talking about skin conditions, or the lack of education dermatologists and doctors receive around skincare concerns that Black women often face, such as pigmentation, it's clear that things need to change.So, whether it's shamefully narrow clinical trials, whitewashing of imagery, the limited terminology used when talking about skin conditions, or the lack of education dermatologists and doctors receive around skincare concerns that Black women often face, such as pigmentation, it's clear that things need to change.

Pioneering the inclusivity movement within dermatology is The Black Skin Directory. Founded by aesthetician Dija Ayodele, The Black Skin Directory is a platform created to address specific skin conditions that people of colour face and helps find professionals that are equipped to deal with these concerns. Sounds easy right? Unfortunately not. One survey conducted by the platform found that, of 75 Black women asked about finding a skincare professional that could meet their needs, 92% said it was a challenge to find, and access, a professional that could do so.

Building on The Black Skin Directory's work is The Black Aesthetics Advisory Board, founded in June by members Dija Ayodele, Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, Dr Tijion Esho and Dr Amiee Vyas. The board aims to educate brands and professionals about Black skin and the need for increased representation within the industry. A giant step in the right direction for dermatology, yes, but there's more work to be done and it goes right back to the core of the medical industry.

As UK citizens, we all have the right to access high-grade medical care when we need it most, regardless of the colour of our skin, but this isn't always the case in practise. Hoping to change this is a new wave of medical practitioners that have added 'activist' to their already extensive CVs, through campaigning for long overdue change within dermatology. But, without recognising the issues, change can't begin to happen.

So what exactly needs to change? (Spoiler alert: it's a lot...)

1.Whitewashed Medical ImageryIt might not be your norm to pick up a medical textbook but, if you do, the majority, if not all, of the imagery within it is likely to be of Caucasian skin. The fallout? A whole generation of doctors being inadequately trained.

Take a skin condition such as eczema, the pictures will often involve inflamed, red skin but this isn’t an accurate depiction of the symptoms among those with dark skin tones, leading to a lot of doctors either dismissing or misdiagnosing a condition.

Skin conditions can be debilitating enough as it is, but to be unable to receive the correct medical advice for it is inexcusable.

Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme recently told Sky News ‘there’s a lack of training of what different conditions look like in different ethnic types, what we’re taught in medical school is usually on Caucasian skin case studies.'

Skin Deep is looking to change this. The project is building an online platform of medical images on a range of different skin tones for professionals to refer to when diagnosing skin conditions.

‘The motivation for the project is driven by our patients,' explains Holly Wakefield, a founder of the project and Paediatric ED Sister at the Royal London Hospital. 'Families who have children with skin conditions end up looking online for images and every image they see in the search results is of children with white skin. Similarly as paediatricians and nurses, we need to be able to recognise and diagnose skin conditions in all our patients.’

The aim is to build a library of diverse imagery that the whole medical community can refer to. Another individual adding to those resources is medical student, Malone Mukwende who has created a handbook of clinical signs on a variety of different skin tones, addressing misdiagnoses. Named ‘Mind The Gap’, Mukwende hopes it becomes the norm in medical practice to refer to the handbook.

‘On arrival at medical school I noticed the lack of teaching in darker skin,' Mukwende told BME Medics. 'We were often being taught to look for symptoms such as red rashes which I was aware would not appear as described in my own skin. When flagging this to tutors it was clear that they didn’t know of any other way to describe these conditions on patients of darker skin tones and I knew that I had to make a change to that.'

‘I hope the work makes healthcare professionals aware of some of the biases they may have and know what impact this has on patients', Mukwende continued. 'It is important medical professionals are aware of variation in presenting symptoms when treating the diverse range of patients that they serve.

I hope the work will help to increase the confidence of darker skinned patients to seek medical advice.' It is thought is echoed throughout the medical community, with one petition calling for medical schools to include BAME representation in clinical testing and descriptions to make sure the highest quality of care is available to everyone.

SIGN THE PETITION

2. Genetic Stereotyping and ‘Race-medicine’White people have benefited from a medical institution whose studies and research, for centuries, has focussed almost exclusively on fair skin tones - a privilege many of us don't even consider. Being able to trust that a doctor's diagnosis is based on tried and tested information rather than guesswork is something that we take for granted.

Michaela Coel’s 'I May Destroy You' provided the UK with a prime example of the systemic racism you can face in a doctors office. Waiting for the results of a blood pressure test, Coel's character Arabella is told by her doctor that ‘she’s already at an elevated risk due to being of Afro-Caribbean origin’.

Arabella immediately points out the racial ignorance of this statement, because she’s actually African. This might be a fictional vignette, but the portrayal of medical ignorance is all too real.

Doctors assuming a patient's racial origin based on the colour of their skin, without actually asking them, is a widespread problem and nurtures hugely damaging stereotypes. Dorothy Roberts, a Civil Rights Sociologist and Law Professor at the University of Pennsylvania has been campaigning about these injustices within the medical field for her entire career and serves on the board of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.

Dorothy Roberts: What's Race Got to Do with Medicine?NPR.orgDoctors often take a patient's race into account when making a diagnosis--or ruling one out. Professor Dorothy Roberts says this practice is both outdated and dangerous.In Roberts' TED Talk from 2015, she explains the real issues with race-based medicine and the myths surrounding the concept:

‘Doctors tell me they're using race as a shortcut. It's a crude but convenient proxy for more important factors, like muscle mass, enzyme level, genetic traits they just don't have time to look for. But race is a bad proxy. In many cases, race adds no relevant information at all. It's just a distraction. But race also tends to overwhelm the clinical measures.

It blinds doctors to patients' symptoms, family illnesses, their history, their own illnesses they might have - all more evidence-based than the patient's race. Race can't substitute for these important clinical measures without sacrificing patient well-being.

Race medicine also leaves patients of colour especially vulnerable to harmful biases and stereotypes.'Negative stereotyping is also prevalent within the world of prescription medication, where a cultural pain disparity arises. A study by the AMA Journal of Ethics found that African American patients and Hispanic patients were less likely than white patients to receive any pain medication.

If they were given medication, it was at lower doses due to a racial stereotype that they would ‘misuse’ the painkillers. The reality? The same study found that white people were in fact more likely to misuse prescriptions of opioids.

‘The reason I'm so passionate about ending race medicine isn't just because it's bad medicine,' says Roberts. 'I'm also on this mission because the way doctors practice medicine continues to promote a false and toxic view of humanity.'

3. Lack Of Diverse Medical TestingRigorous testing is crucial before making anything available to the public, but if you’re only testing a product on white people, how are you supposed to know the full spectrum of potential side effects? And why are we still qualifying this limited testing as 'rigorous'?

A case study investigating the characterisation of clinical study populations by race and ethnicity in Biomedical literature found that after analysing 1,867 medical journals, only 17.3% reported on race. One particular lung-disease study which was published between 1993 and 2013, showed that less than 5% of the participants were from minority ethnic groups. Considering ethnic minorities make up for 40% of the United States' population, this is alarmingly unbalanced.

Having a system rigged towards Caucasian patients by only catering to their medical needs is creating a bias in a field that should be helping everybody.

Shared from FacebookDr Keolu Fox, a Native Hawaiian Geneticist and indigenous rights activist, is campaigning for genetic research to be more diverse.

He found that 96% of The Human Genome Project (that cost 2.7 billion and was focused on identifying and understanding human genes for scientific purposes) was solely focused on individuals with European ancestry.

Reference: Elle: Charlotte Bitmead 16 hrs ago: 21st July 2020