Fears in Japan that limited coronavirus testing is masking true scale of infections

As neighbours such as South Korea are identifying more cases through large-scale testing, Japan’s comparatively relaxed response has concerned citizens

People with mild symptoms are not required to test for the virus, leading experts to believe the number of confirmed cases is under-reported

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People wear masks as they commute during the morning rush hour in Chuo district. Photo: AP

Published: 2:30pm, 28 Feb 2020Updated: 11:16pm, 28 Feb 2020

Japan is becoming a centre of concern as the coronavirus spreads globally, with the country’s official infection tally suspected to be the tip of the iceberg of a much wider outbreak.

As of Friday, the virus had infected more than 180 people and was linked to four deaths, excluding the cases from the Diamond Princess cruise ship which was quarantined for weeks in Yokohama harbour.

In neighbouring South Korea however, the number of infections has swelled rapidly to cross 2,000, after the government tested tens of thousands of people to get a clearer picture of the deadly outbreak.

That divergence has experts and members of the public concerned about Japan’s approach to diagnosis.

“For every one who tests positive, there are probably hundreds with mild symptoms,” said Masahiro Kami, chair of the Medical Governance Research Institute in Tokyo, and a practising doctor. “Those with mild symptoms are not being tested.”

While the government says it has the capacity to conduct 3,800 tests a day, only 5,700 were carried out between February 18 to 23, Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told parliament on Wednesday. That included the tests taken by passengers and crew of the Diamond Princess, where Japan’s attempt to quarantine the boat resulted in an explosion in infections to more than 700 cases.

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