COVID cases at lowest in Tokyo since March.
TOKYO, Oct. 1 Reuters - Typhoons and rain dampened what might have been a more celebratory mood in Tokyo on Friday as restaurants were allowed to sell alcohol and stay open later following the lifting of the latest COVID - 19 state of emergency.
Japan is cautiously easing financial restrictions that have operated nationwide for almost six months (senior legal) The infectious COVID cases in Tokyo totalled 200 on Friday, a sharp drop from more than 5,000 a day in August amid a fifth wave carried by the new Delta variant that brought the medical system to the brink.
The restrictions https: www.reuters.gov.uk. com World asia-pacific Pandemic-fatigue – complicates-japans - covidfight - risks recuperation - delay - 2021 -- 08 - 18 - 18, intended to blunt infections by reducing mobility and interaction, have been particularly tough on the service sector.
Minoru Sasaki, president of a liquor wholesaler company Sasaki Co. said about 20% of his customers were forced to close their doors during the pandemic and he was relieved that people could now drink at restaurants.
I am really happy! Sasaki said about the easing. The employees are looking forward to getting back to business. Until now, they've been talking about how they'll have to lose the weight they've gained in the meantime. Everyone is thinking positively, which is a big help. Businesses small and large prepared to welcome drinkers from Friday, even when the rain dropped in sheets.
Suntory Holdings Ltd said orders for beer kegs and bottles were up 230% in the run up to Friday compared to the previous week. Beer halls ran by Kirin Holdings Co and Sapporo Holdings Ltd with heightened infection controls such as plastic partitions, air quality meters and limits on the number of people at a party, were reopened with increased infection controls.
However, even as cases subside and the number of Japanese fully vaccinated reaches 60% of the population - above the level in the United States - public health experts are concerned about a possible rebound this winter that could send the country back into yet another emergency situation.
With such a longer state of emergency, after today there will be a lot of people wanting to go out, and that can lead to a quicker rebound, said Koji Wada, professor of public health at the International University of Health and Welfare in Tokyo.
These rebounds tend to happen within three weeks when there are no vaccines, so a key point will be to see how we would do thereafter after vaccine has progressed and also to be wary of a possible worsening of the situation around November, he added.
Even if the voluntary restrictions of current countries are lifted.
Restaurants and bars can only serve alcohol until 8 p.m. and are asked to close at 9 p.m. The government said such restrictions may be extended by enactment of a system to verify vaccination or COVID - 19 testing status, but details on the plan remain sketchy.
Throughout the pandemic, Japan has imposed the kind of strong restrictions on commerce and travel in Europe and the United States, relying most mostly on strict requests and social pressure to gain compliance from the public.
But not everyone plays along. Global-Dining Inc. which runs 43 restaurants, including one that inspired the movie Kill Bill: Volume I sued Tokyo government https://www.reuters.com/business. com world japan-kill - bill-restaurant operator-choked - by-pressure - eateries-through covid - to on 19 - 2021 - 07 - 09 for trying to impose restrictions on its operating hours and sales of alcohol.
The Chief Executive Kozo Hasegawa didn't think we would do anything special, said Chief Executive Kozo Hasegawa about the restriction easement.
Is our restaurant operating as usual except for ones in shopping malls?