Status of COVID-19 in Japan: social services and social work responses

Abstract:

This significant global health emergency has challenged and tested our governments, communities, families, and individuals alike. COVID-19 came to the world’s attention in December 2019. By 5 July 2020, the virus had exacted an enormous human toll with 10,410,447 cases confirmed globally and 534,164 COVID-19 related deaths (World Health Organization, 2020). Some countries and regions have particularly been hardly hit. The extent of suffering and damages is influenced by many variables including the time the first cases emerged and the state of knowledge at the time, government responses, available resources, and community adherence to implemented restrictions and safety measures, to name a few.

This report addresses the status of COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Societal measures addressing the social consequences of COVID-19, general policy for dealing with the coronavirus infection by the government, social services responses and social work responses have been discussed and explained in the current report.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, Social work responses, Societal measures, General policy