'COVID-19 Resurgence' in Japan: Osaka, Hyogo, and Miyagi Under 'Priority Measures' for One Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The Japanese government has decided to apply the "Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread" to three metropolitan local governments, including Osaka Prefecture, for one month starting from the 5th.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and others, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced at the COVID-19 task force meeting held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on the evening of the 1st that this measure will be applied to Osaka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Miyagi Prefecture. Prime Minister Suga emphasized, "We will focus on countermeasures by limiting the regions and periods," adding, "This is to prevent the declaration of a state of emergency and to stop the spread of infections."

When the Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread, which is the step before issuing a state of emergency, are applied, local government heads can order shortened business hours for restaurants and other establishments. Each local government plans to move the closing time forward to 8 p.m. Businesses that violate this may be fined. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, "The method of uniformly providing cooperation funds to stores that shortened business hours will be improved by differentiating the amounts according to the scale."

The Japanese government newly established the Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread in the Special Measures Law revised last February. This is the first time it is being applied. Recently, signs of a fourth wave of COVID-19 have appeared in Japan. The number of new COVID-19 cases the previous day was 2,843, marking the second consecutive day in the 2,000s. In particular, the number of new cases in Osaka Prefecture was 599 on the 31st and 616 on the 1st. This is the highest level among Japan's 47 prefectures.

In this regard, Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, stated on the same day that the Tokyo Olympic torch relay in Osaka City should be stopped. The Tokyo Olympic torch relay began on the 25th of last month in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The torch relay schedule within Osaka Prefecture is planned for the 13th and 14th, with the day passing through Osaka City being the 14th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.