Tokyo Post-corona～Toward a vibrant City～
International Events: Bringing
Vitality Back to the City

◆ In early May 2023, the WHO ended the global
emergency status for COVID-19. At the same time,
Japan lowered its disease classification; A sense of“normalcy” had returned to the city and the daily livesof the people of Tokyo.
◆ This February, under the banner of SusHi Tech Tokyo (Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo), Tokyo hosted
one of Japan's largest international Startup events (with approximately 26,000 participants from 67countries) and an international conference where city leaders, from 34 cities across five continents, came
together to discuss solutions to urban issues.
◆ Tokyo is also continuously developing facilities to become new symbols of the city, such as Tokyo
Midtown Yaesu, a large-scale 45-story complex connected to JR Tokyo Station, and Tokyo Kabukicho Tower
in Shinjuku. Tourism from around the world is also rapidly recovering.

Lessons Learned From The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's*
COVID-19 Countermeasures

In early May, in response to the lowering of COVID-19’s disease category, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko sentout a video message, declaring that “The 1,200-day long fight against COVID-19 has reached a turning
point.” In Tokyo, like other cities around the world, government and the general public united to combat thevirus. Despite being the most aged population among developed nations, with a higher percentage of the
medically vulnerable elderly, Japan and Tokyo maintained one of the lowest death rates (per million) of allmajor countries. How was this achieved?
*Hereafter “TMG”

COVID-19 Deaths per Million by Country

We would like to introduce the three main
points of the TMG’s COVID-19
countermeasures and the lessons learned
through this experience regarding:strengthening Tokyo’s core values,
foundations and applicable knowledge inthe event of future infectious diseases andthe necessary steps to take.
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/

Establish A Tokyo Model: Infection Control through PublicPrivate Partnerships▶Establishing the "Tokyo Model": we swiftly secured hospital beds, set up specialized treatment facilities
for the high-risk elderly, and improved follow-up treatment for those recuperating at home to provide a
streamlined, comprehensive medical care system that protects the life and health of each individual.
▶Using the “Three Cs” slogan (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings), the TMG
encouraged the public to take thorough basic infection prevention measures such as hand washing, social
distancing, and regular ventilation. Whilst mask wearing was not legally mandated in Japan, the high level of
public health awareness among the population meant that most complied.
▶Made up of leading Japanese experts in fields such as epidemiology, public health, treatment and risk
communication, we set up the Tokyo iCDC (Center for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention) in 2020 toserve as a central base for coordinating effective countermeasures against infectious diseases, includingcrisis management, research, analysis, and information dissemination.
▶ Generalized staggered commuting and remote working to reduce crowding.

“No One Left Behind”
Multilingual Communications for ourInternational City
▶The COVID-19 Information Website is available in 13languages. The Governor of Tokyo has also personallysent out COVID-19 video messages in 12 languages.
▶Following the weekly COVID-19 Expert meetings,
reports were made in both English and Japanese on anystatus changes and countermeasures, etc.

Reliable Monitoring and Communications: COVID-19
Information Website

In March 2020, promptly following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Tokyo, the COVID-19
Information Website was launched. The website releases the latest accurate and speedy information on adaily basis, including: statistics on new positive cases, hospital bed occupancy rates and the number ofhospitalized and overnight care patients. To date, the website traffic has reached an estimated 50 million
visitors. Releasing the site as OSS (Open Source Software) had allowed suggestions for improvement fromengineers around the world, and similar websites are now in use in other municipalities in Japan.

Countermeasures against Future Infectious Diseases
Building upon the knowledge and experience gained thus far, we will not only
return Tokyo to “normal,” but ensure a “sustainable recovery” in which we
protect the health and safety of Tokyo residents from the threat of various
infectious diseases, and create a vibrant and sustainable city for the future.
Further information on Tokyo's COVID-19 control measures and recent activity
is also available at Tokyo Updates, the TMG’s online magazine.
Strategic Public Relations Division, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
S0014905@section.metro.tokyo.jp