Latest news with #BureauofPublicHealth
Saudi Gazette
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
TOKYO — Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added. By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water fees — based on water usage and paid on top of base fees — will be charged at their usual has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government recorded its hottest summer on record last in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke — also a record — with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people. — BBC
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Joike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added.# By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air conditioning. In more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan Times. On average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water pipe. Additional fees - based on water usage and paid on top of base fees - will be charged at their usual rate. Tokyo has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government statistics. Japan recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Temperatures in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological agency. Between June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke - also a record - with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tokyo to waive water bills this summer to combat extreme heat
Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Joike said. Heatstroke claimed 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added.# By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air conditioning. In more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan Times. On average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water pipe. Additional fees - based on water usage and paid on top of base fees - will be charged at their usual rate. Tokyo has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government statistics. Japan recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Temperatures in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological agency. Between June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke - also a record - with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Morrisey says executive order giving vaccine exemptions will not be rescinded
CHARLESTON, (WBOY) — Governor Patrick Morrisey is reaffirming his stance on an executive order that grants religious exemptions from vaccine mandates in West Virginia. In a statement Monday, Gov. Morrisey called on the State Superintendent as well as county boards of education to work with the Bureau of Public Health to 'ensure that religious rights of students are protected.' The executive order in question was one of eight that the governor issued upon taking office in January, which directed health officials to stop enforcing 'compulsory school immunization requirements' and to draft up an official objection process to the rule based on religion. During this past legislative session, lawmakers submitted a bill—Senate Bill 460—that would codify religious exemptions for vaccines into West Virginia law. The bill passed the Senate, but failed in the House. 'Students will not be denied access to public education because of their religious objections to compulsory vaccination,' Morrisey said. Randolph County superintendent: 'forecast is pretty dark' A press release from the governor's office argued that the executive order is based on various freedom of religion guarantees on both the federal and state levels, such as the Protection for Religion Act of 2023, which 'prohibits government action that substantially burdens a person's exercise of religion.' The release also provided details on how parents can apply to obtain religious exemptions by sending a letter to the Bureau of Public Health, and how the exemptions are handled on a year-by-year basis. It added that multiple lawsuits are already pending in federal courts that challenge West Virginia's 'compulsory' vaccine requirements. The West Virginia Democratic Party called the guidance 'irresponsible' and 'misguided,' citing the legislature's rejection of the idea during this past legislative session. 'The legislature has already spoken clearly on this matter—Governor Morrisey has no authority to perform an end run around their decision,' stated Delegate Anitra Hamilton (D – Monongalia). 'It's disturbing that our Governor is prioritizing political pandering over the health and safety of West Virginia students and school personnel. Democrats also criticized the fact that Gov. Morrisey has yet to appoint a Chief Public Health Officer after Dr. Matthew Christiansen's departure in 2024, claiming that the reason the governor hasn't done so is because '[he] knows it's virtually impossible to find a qualified professional willing to endorse the Governor's unscientific and medically unsound policies.' You can read the full letter issued Friday by the governor here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
