The japanese government approved this Wednesday new health restrictions for much of the country, including Tokyo, to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus driven by the Omicron variant.
The restrictions in 13 regions, targeting nightspots in particular, are far less stringent than a lockdown and will be in place from Friday until mid-February.
The central government resolution allows each region to decide what specific measures to adopt. Most regions urged bars and restaurants to shorten their opening hours or suspend the sale of alcoholic beverages.
The first Minister Fumio Kishida explained that the government seeks to be “fully prepared” in the fight against the most recent hello from covid-19.
“We will work in close coordination with regional governments,” Kishida said as he announced the measures at a meeting of the task force charged with fighting the virus.
“With scientific evaluations by experts, the cooperation of medical workers and, above all, the cooperation of the Japanese people, we will overcome this situation,” he added.
the contagious Omicron variant sparked a resurgence of the coronavirus in Japan, with more than 30,000 daily cases for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Japan has been hit less by the coronavirus than other countries, but authorities and experts fear that an increase in infections will put pressure on the country’s health system.
Three Japanese regions already face restrictions from the virus after the increase in cases linked to US military bases.
More than 78% of the Japanese population are fully vaccinated, but only 1.2% have received a booster dose.
