Japan will place Tokyo and 12 other prefectures in a state of quasi-emergency from Friday to mid-February amid a rapid increase in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday.
The emergency measures will be in place for Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Niigata, Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Kagawa, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Miyazaki and are in place until February 13, Kishida told a government task force on Wednesday.
Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima have been placed in a state of quasi-emergency since January 9, with measures in place until the end of the month.
Some basic information: During a quasi-emergency, local governors can order catering establishments to shorten their operating hours and stop serving alcohol. Residents in these areas are also asked to avoid traveling across provincial borders.
Tokyo reported 7,377 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 2,192 cases from the previous day and the highest number of daily cases of the pandemic, according to local government data.
The capital has 10 severe patients as of Wednesday – an increase of three patients from the previous day.
Meanwhile, Osaka Prefecture in western Japan recorded around 6,101 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, according to local government data.
Nationwide, Japan recorded 32,087 cases on Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In his first policy speech at the start of a 150-Day Regular Diet session on Monday, Kishida said he will devote himself to containing Covid-19 in Japan as the Omicron variant pushes the envelope. increase the number of cases nationwide. He asked for the public’s cooperation to win the war against the virus.
Kishida also pledged on Monday to roll out booster shots more quickly, immunize young children and make sure medical care is available for people with severe Covid-19 symptoms even when cases increase.
