[ad_1]
Overall, the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan was relatively small – just over 2,000 confirmed. deaths and 135.4 thousand. cases of infection. Japan did not announce strict quarantine measures like other states.
However, the country is now dealing with the third wave of COVID-19 and has posted a record number of infections per day in recent days.
“We would like to ask the people of Tokyo, if possible, to refrain from unnecessary travel as much as possible so that the infection does not spread further,” the governor of the capital, Yuriko Koike, told reporters.
He also urged city residents to work from home.
None of the governor’s calls are tied to any enforcement mechanism. Even the emergency declared during the peak of the outbreak in the spring did not provide penalties for ignoring recommendations to stay home or close businesses.
Additionally, Koike has asked alcoholic beverage outlets, including karaoke lounges, to close at 10 p.m. on Saturday for about three weeks. Companies that follow this recommendation will receive compensation.
Koike’s report came after the Japanese Medical Association warned that “health care systems across Japan are in danger of collapsing.”
“If the number of infections increases rapidly, we will not be able to maintain beds for both COVID-19 patients and other patients,” said Toshio Nakagawa, president of the organization.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said last week that there was “maximum preparedness” for the virus in Japan and that his government had been forced to change its position due to a controversial domestic tourism campaign.
Initially, the government stated that it would not reduce the campaign, but changed its mind and allowed individual regions to decide to abandon it.
So far, Osaka and the northern city of Sapporo have pulled out of the program, which subsidizes domestic travel in an attempt to help the travel and hospitality sector.
[ad_2]
