Thread by @AP

THREAD: Japan was accused of botching the handling of the outbreak on a luxury cruise ship near Tokyo, but it has been spared explosive surges without a hard lockdown and is praised for widespread mask-wearing. #PandemicAtlas apne.ws/zbLnP8w

Daily cases have spiked recently, triggering fears of a further upsurge. Japan’s government, afraid of hurting the economy, has delayed tougher actions than seeking individual effort such as mask-wearing. #PandemicAtlas apne.ws/TfK7tSC

Tokyo and a few other cities requested drinking places to close early until mid-December in their own initiative to slow the infections before the holiday season of parties and traveling. #PandemicAtlas apne.ws/TvX5UNp

Japan’s government is seen as prioritizing the economy over people’s lives. It has ignored repeated advice by experts that the state-led travel promotion campaign to support the pandemic-hit industry should be halted. #PandemicAtlas apne.ws/czXF1yz

Japan’s handling of the latest upsurge also calls into question plans to hold the Olympics next July, as details would have to be firmed up in the coming weeks. #PandemicAtlas apne.ws/TQ6pXqh

The coronavirus emerged a year ago in Wuhan, China, and swept across the world. It brought joblessness and lockdowns, infirmity and death to all corners of the globe. But each nation has its own story of how it coped. Read @AP's #PandemicAtlas project. apne.ws/EvZkR3X