Japan poised to widen curbs as Omicron drives record infections photo Rappler
COVID-19

Japan poised to widen curbs as Omicron drives record infections

Jan 20, 2022, 7:47 AM
Rose De La Cruz

Rose De La Cruz

Writer/Columnist

Japan is widening its COVID controls to cover half of its population as the Omicron variant drives new infections to record levels. Tokyo’s occupancy rate of hospital beds is now at 23.4 percent and an increase to 50 percent would warrant a declaration of full state of emergency.

JAPANESE Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to approve plans to widen Covid-19 controls to cover half of its population as the Omicron variant drives new infections to record levels. This, after an expert panel cleared it.

The so-called quasi-emergency measures permit governors to impose curbs on mobility and business, including shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants, as well as prohibitions on alcohol sales, Reuters reported.

The measures, already in place in three regions, will widen to cover Tokyo and 12 other prefectures, lasting from Friday until Feb. 13.

Japan recorded more than 32,000 new COVID–19 cases on Tuesday, according to a tally by national broadcaster NHK, exceeding the previous high seen in August shortly after Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympics.

The western prefecture of Osaka posted a record 5,396 new cases, while Tokyo had 5,185, the highest since Aug. 21.

Omicron could overwhelm health system

Omicron is more infectious than previous coronavirus variants but appears to cause less serious conditions. Even so, public health experts are concerned that a wave of Omicron cases could overwhelm the healthcare system.

Japan has vaccinated about 80 percent of its population against COVID–19, but its booster shot program has barely gotten off the ground.

Japan this month declared quasi-emergency curbs in three regions hosting US military facilities, after it appeared that base outbreaks of Omicron spilled into surrounding communities.

Tokyo’s occupancy rate of hospital beds for COVID–19 patients, a closely watched metric, rose to 23.4 percent on Tuesday. An increase to 50 percent would warrant declaration of a full state of emergency, officials have said.

Tags: #Japan, #widencontrolsagainstCOVID19, #Omicronvariant, #threeregions, #COVID19


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