Pedestrians wearing protective face masks cross a road in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan, July 30, 2020. SHOKO TAKAYASU BLOOMBERG TOKYO DHAKA BANGKOK - Japan's minister for coronavirus measures said the government is closely monitoring the rising number of COVID 19 cases in the country.
Following the end of a cabinet meeting, Daishiro Yamagiwa told a press conference that rising cases overseas involving Omicron's subvariants BA. 5 had not gone unnoticed by the government.
The government has recommended that people stop wearing masks in certain situations, provided that social distancing measures are adhered to.
Japan has relaxed its COVID 19 border controls as cases increase across the country.
Overseas visitors from a number of countries are now allowed to enter Japan without any quarantine requirements upon arrival.
ALSO READ: Australian capital hit by the new wave of COVID 19
Japan had maintained the strictest border controls out of all Group of Seven G 7 members, despite the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 2,514 new cases of COVID 19 infections in the capital as a barometer for the outlook of cases nationwide.
The figure was up by 551, compared to the same day a week before, marking the 11th day of week-on-week increases in Tokyo.
The seven-day average for the day stood at 2,159 from a week earlier in the day. The metropolitan government said that it had gone up 28.4 percent from the previous week.
Students arrive in Dhaka to attend classes at Rajuk Uttara Model College on September 12, 2021, as Bangladesh schools were reopened after 18 months in one of the world's longest shutdowns due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. MUNIR UZAMAN AFP Amid a surge in COVID 19 cases, the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh issued a circular with the six-point directives to be effective immediately on Tuesday.
People must wear masks at all restaurants, shopping malls and restaurants under the No mask, no service policy, in line with the directives.
Those who have any symptoms are encouraged to get tested for COVID - 19.
After a short respite of several months, the move aims to limit the spread of the new wave of COVID 19 as Bangladesh is seeing a surge in fresh cases.
Schoolchildren and their parents wait in an observation area after receiving the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine during a vaccination drive for 12 to 18 year-olds with preexisting conditions ahead of the re-opening of schools on Sept. 21, 2021 at the Vachira Haospital in Bangkok, Thailand. ANDREW MALERBA BLOOMBERG Thailand's two deputy prime ministers, Anutin Charnvirakul and Jurin Laksanavisit, have tested positive for COVID - 19, local media reported Tuesday.
Anutin, who is also the country's public health minister, and Jurin, who is also the commerce minister, were both confirmed to have been infected days after they returned from abroad.
Anutin returned to Thailand on Sunday after attending the 50th UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 21 to June 24, while Jurin returned from a trip to Britain during June 18 and June 23 according to local media reports.
Both were recommended for one-week isolation, according to local media.
On Tuesday, Thailand reported 1,761 new confirmed cases and 13 additional deaths, according to the Ministry of Public Health.