Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday that the government will extend restrictions to contain Covid-19 in Tokyo and 12 other regions of the country for three weeks as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues. to spread.
Japan has been breaking daily records for coronavirus cases and deaths amid an outbreak of infections driven by the Ômicron variant.
It will add one more region to the list of those facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on restaurant business hours, Kishida told reporters.
The central government will set up around 1,000 temporary medical facilities to treat coronavirus patients, along with the regional governments of Tokyo and Osaka, he added.
Japan has declared multiple levels of emergency several times during the two-year pandemic.
A full-fledged state of emergency can involve closing places that serve alcohol, restrictions on attendance at sporting and cultural events, and fines for establishments that do not abide by the rules. So-called quasi-measures allow regional governors to enact restrictions on social movement and business hours.
With Japan’s borders closed for nearly two years, the lives of students and workers have been disrupted, prompting business leaders to warn of the potential economic impact, particularly amid a tight labor market.
However, Kishida said he would “think about appropriate actions” on what he called the strongest border rules among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, but did not signal any immediate easing.
Source: CNN Brasil

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