Japan recently declared a new state of emergency for Tokyo and three other prefectures. The decision comes just three months before the July 23 opening of the Tokyo Olympics and attempts to make the games “safe and secure,” as surging Coronavirus cases cloud the event.
The nation’s medical system faces new pressure from the rise in infections tied to COVID-19 variants. The state of emergency — the third declared in Japan since the onset of the pandemic — includes Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures and lasts from Sunday through May 11.
The latest emergency comes after earlier restrictions failed to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, and with hospital beds becoming increasingly scarce. The new guidance includes asking restaurants and large businesses that serve alcohol to shut down during the 17-day period, while diners that do not serve alcohol will be asked to reduce their store hours and close by 8 p.m.
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Restaurants that comply with the request to close will be eligible for cooperation money, or cash handouts; those that do not comply could be fined up to 300,000 yen ($2,780). In a bid to reduce commuting, public transportation operators like subways will be asked to move up their last train times on weekdays, as well as reduce the number of trains that run on weekends and holidays.
