Japan approves new restrictions for areas witnessing sharp Covid surge
Japan approved new restrictions on Friday to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the three most affected southwestern regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.
Given the sudden surge in infections, the medical system runs the risk of suffering a heavy burden in the near future, Daishiro Yamagiwa, the minister in charge of COVID-19 responses, said at a government panel meeting.
The new measures include earlier closing hours for restaurants, a ban on serving alcohol and restrictions on large-scale events. Details on these measures, which will begin Sunday and last through the end of the month, are decided at the local level and will likely vary.
Japan has undergone periods of similar restrictions over the past two years in various areas, including Tokyo. The last order for restricted activity was lifted in September.
This time, the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant appears to be first hitting prefectures that house the US military.
Cases in Okinawa, home to mo