Japan to expand COVID curbs

Japan government will extend Covid-19 restrictions in Tokyo and 12 prefectures for another three weeks in response to daily record-breaking Covid-19 infections across the country.

News reports on February 9 state that prime minister Fumio Kishida would add one more prefecture to the list of regions facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on the business hours of eateries.

Japan’s international borders have been shut for two years, and several states of emergencies were declared throughout the country’s fights against the pandemic.
It will add one more prefecture to the list of regions facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on the business hours of eateries, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

The central government will create about 1,000 temporary medical facilities treating coronavirus patients, together with Tokyo and Osaka regional governments, he added.

Japan has declared various levels of emergency multiple times during the two-year pandemic. A full state of emergency might involve closures of venues serving alcohol, attendance restrictions at sporting and cultural events, and fines for non-compliant businesses. So-called quasi measures allow regional governors to order curbs on social movement and business hours.

With Japan's borders shut for nearly two years, the lives of students and workers have been disrupted, prompting business leaders to warn about the possible economic impact, particularly amid a tight labour market. read more

However, Kishida said he would "think about appropriate actions" on what he called the strongest border rules among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, but did not signal any immediate easing.

-B