After India, Japanese Air Force pays tribute to medical workers

The Japanese air force's aerobatic demonstration squadron, Blue Impulse, flew over central Tokyo on Friday in a salute to medical workers on the frontline against the coronavirus pandemic.

Let's take a look:

A team of six T-4 training jets streaked across a clear blue sky shortly after noon and flew over central Tokyo to pay tribute to frontline workers who are selflessly working day and and night to treat coronavirus patients.

Medical workers from different hospitals in Tokyo stood outside and patiently waited for the jets of Japanese Air Force to pass over.

Although the state of emergency has been lifted in Japan, Tokyo and Osaka are two virus-hit regions where restrictions are still in place.

 

Doctors and nurses on hospital rooftops waved and held up mobile phones to take photos of the passing planes.

Comments on social media, however, suggested some people felt the effort should have been directed instead towards protecting the frontline workers.

Japan has managed to avoid an explosive surge in coronavirus infections, with 16,759 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 882 deaths, as of Friday morning, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Japan took inspiration from its friend India which also paid a tribute to its frontline medical workers on May 3.

The Indian Air Force and Indian Navy demonstrated a symbolic show of thanks to front-line workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic by showering flower petals upon them