Society | Aug 15

Department stores in Japan restrict customer entry as COVID-19 surges

Aug 15 (Japan Times) - Major department stores in Tokyo and Osaka have started restricting the entry of customers to their basement grocery sections in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Specifically, they were asked to halve the number of customers allowed in food sections based on foot traffic seen in early July, before the emergency was issued.

In Osaka on Friday, Hankyu Hanshin Department Store Inc.’s Hankyu Umeda outlet closed underground entrances to the area selling food, meaning it can only be reached by escalators.

In Tokyo, starting on Saturday five stores run by Isetan Mitsukoshi Holding Ltd. are reducing the number of entrances to their food sections.

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