Japan will intensify measures to curb wave of COVID-19
Japan foresees extend the health measures already in force in some regions to the majority of the country, in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, which is causing a record of infections. Total, 33 of the 47 Japanese departments, including the capital Tokyo, which currently hosts the Paralympic Games, they will be affected, according to a list approved Wednesday by a committee of health experts and that should be made official quickly.
Since the end of June, Japan suffers a fifth wave of coronavirus, the most violent to date, exacerbated by the spread of the more contagious delta variant. Last Friday there was a record of infections in the country (almost 25,900 cases in 24 hours) and in Tokyo the average number of new infections in seven days increased fivefold in six weeks.
Due to this outbreak, the Japanese hospital system is “in a dire situation”The minister in charge of the fight against the pandemic, Yasutoshi Nishimura, declared this Wednesday. The government will extend the state of emergency from 13 to 21 departments, allowing you to force bars and restaurants to close earlier and not serve alcohol and also limit population movements.
Moreover, Nishimura asked the governors of all departments to strengthen medical infrastructures, starting with oxygen reserves and more personnel. In parallel, Japan will also intensify the vaccination campaign. Currently 42% of the population is fully vaccinated.
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