Tokyo: Japan on Friday approved new restrictions to curb the spread of infection in the worst-hit southwestern Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima regions. Daishiro Yamagiwa, Minister for Combatting Covid-19, told a government committee meeting, “Given the sudden increase in cases of infection, there is a risk of huge pressure on the medical system in the near future.”
The new restrictions include a time limit for restaurants, a ban on serving alcohol, and a ban on large-scale events. These restrictions will come into effect from Sunday and will remain in place till the end of this month. Japan has imposed similar restrictions in the past two years in various areas, including Tokyo.
Cases of infection in Okinawa have increased by 30 times in a week. This is the base of American troops in Japan. There were 1,400 new cases of infection on Friday, which is 981 more than the first cases. Cases of infection are also increasing very rapidly in Yamaguchi and neighboring Hiroshima.
