Japan’s COVID quasi-emergency takes effect in 3 areas as cases spike
The quasi-state of emergency will be in effect until Jan. 31 in Okinawa and parts of Yamaguchi and Hiroshima, allowing the prefectural governments to strengthen their anti-coronavirus steps and request that dining establishments shorten their business hours and stop serving alcohol.
The emergency, the first under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October, was declared as medical experts warn of a sixth wave of infections in the country and a renewed strain on the medical system.
Following a cluster of infections at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in Okinawa and a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases at a different base in the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, which is adjacent to Hiroshima, local officials and health experts now believe the outbreaks have spilled into nearby areas and beyond.
All of Okinawa Prefecture will be under the quasi-emergency, while only certain cities and towns will be subject to it in Yamaguchi, which hosts the U.S. Marines' air base in Iwakuni, and in Hiroshima.
«As a result of discussions with the U.S. side, we have reached a broad agreement not to allow unnecessary outings» by U.S. service personnel, Kishida said on an NHK television program, referring to measures against the spread of the virus from U.S. military bases in Japan. «We are now working out details.»
The prime minister meanwhile said during a Fuji TV program in the morning that the government will decide whether to continue with the current strict border controls after the three-day weekend ends Monday.
With the emergence of the new variant, Japan tightened border controls in late November, banning the entry of all nonresident foreign nationals. It has also toughened quarantine measures for Japanese citizens and foreign residents who have recently been to certain countries or regions.
Under the quasi-state of emergency, the three prefectures will request dining establishments in areas subject to the restrictions to shorten business hours and limit group dining to up to four people.
Yamaguchi and Hiroshima prefectures are also asking establishments to stop serving alcohol, while Okinawa will allow restaurants and bars certified as taking sufficient anti-virus measures to serve alcohol until 8 p.m.
Yamaguchi Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka told reporters Saturday his government may have to consider tougher measures if the situation continues to worsen in the prefecture.
Community transmission of the Omicron variant has also been confirmed in bigger Japanese cities, including Tokyo and Osaka, with the nationwide tally of infections hitting a four-month high of more than 8,000 on Saturday.
