Japan Implements COVID Emergency Measures in Three Prefectures Including Okinawa

On the 7th, pedestrians wearing masks are passing by on the streets of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Japan will apply emergency quarantine measures from the 9th to three metropolitan local governments where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading.

The metropolitan local governments where the "Priority Measures to Prevent the Spread" (hereinafter referred to as Priority Measures), a quarantine measure equivalent to a state of emergency, were applied on this day are Okinawa Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Hiroshima Prefecture.

The heads of the metropolitan local governments where the Priority Measures are applied can take emergency measures to suppress the floating population, such as restricting restaurant business hours.

In Okinawa Prefecture, restaurant business hours are limited until 9 p.m. However, the serving of alcoholic beverages is allowed. In Yamaguchi Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture, restaurant business hours are limited until 8 p.m., and the serving of alcoholic beverages is also suspended.

In Japan, nationwide Priority Measures were lifted last September due to a sharp decrease in COVID-19 confirmed cases, and restrictions such as restaurant business hours were also removed.

According to the local public broadcaster NHK's tally, the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide yesterday was 8,480, marking the 8,000 level for the first time in about four months since September 11 last year. This is about 16 times the 534 cases reported a week ago on the 1st.

Looking at the daily number of confirmed cases by metropolitan local government yesterday, Okinawa Prefecture had the highest with 1,759 cases, followed by Tokyo Metropolis with 1,224 cases, Osaka Prefecture with 891 cases, and Hiroshima Prefecture with 547 cases.

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