Suga says shorter hours for bars, restaurants crucial in stemming coronavirus spread

Nov 28, 2020 | News On Japan

Nov 28, 2020 (Japan Today) - Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Friday that shorter hours for bars and restasurants serving alcohol would be "crucial" in stemming the coronavirus spread, with other major cities Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo having already taken or getting set to take similar steps.

Speaking at a coronavirus task force meeting, Suga also said trips departing from Osaka and Sapporo, in addition to those to either city, would be removed from the Go To Travel program.

According to Shigeki Iwai, senior vice minister of transport, 202 people applying for the subsidies had been found to have contracted the virus as of Thursday.

The Tokyo metropolitan government has also decided to halt the issuance and sale of discount coupons under a state-run subsidy program, dubbed Go To Eat, to encourage dining out.

Tokyo reported on Friday 570 new coronavirus infections, pushing up its monthly tally for November to the highest on record.

The figure, which surpassed 539 logged last Saturday, brought the number of infections confirmed in Tokyo in November to 8,567, topping 8,125 in August and reflecting the growing severity of infections in the capital.

The capital's tally now stands at around 40,000 cases, with the number of people suffering severe COVID-19 symptoms rising by one from the previous day to 61 people, the highest level since a state of emergency declared over the pandemic was lifted in late May.

As test results can take a few days to confirm, Friday's figure reflects the outcomes of a record of over 9,000 tests conducted on Tuesday following a three-day weekend through Monday.

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