Japan Adopts Basic Plan on Easing Coronavirus Restrictions

Tokyo, Sept. 9 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government on Thursday adopted a basic plan on easing coronavirus restrictions by utilizing vaccine certificates and negative test results. The move comes as the government expects COVID-19 vaccinations for people hoping to receive vaccines to be completed around November. Under the basic plan, restaurants and bars are expected to be allowed to serve alcohol, and people are seen allowed to travel across prefectural borders, even if a COVID-19 state of emergency is in place. The current restrictions on opening hours and the number of visitors per group at restaurants and bars in areas under a state of emergency or in the pre-emergency stage will also be relaxed. The cap on event participants could be raised following the introduction of such measures as a coronavirus tracking system using QR codes. The government will no longer ask people to refrain from traveling across prefectural borders after they are vaccinated. The basic plan calls on the government to consider tourism incentives, with the aim of encouraging people to get vaccinated. Initially, the government will partially relax the coronavirus restrictions in areas in the pre-emergency stage and assess the effects. The basic plan leaves the possibility of strong restrictions being reimposed if new coronavirus variants or other factors make it difficult to provide adequate medical services. Whether to ease coronavirus restrictions based on the basic plan will be decided by the next administration, which will be launched by early October, following the resignation of incumbent Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. "We'll cooperate (with the next administration) by fully conveying our discussions," Suga said at a press conference on Thursday. END