In a recent study posted in the Research Square* preprint server, which is under consideration at the journal Scientific Reports, a team of researchers conducted a longitudinal survey in 11 Japanese prefectures to evaluate whether early closure of full-service restaurants and bars reduced the incidence and symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during February 2021.

In January 2021, 11 prefectural governments in Japan declared a state of emergency (SE) and mandated restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m. during February 2021 in hopes of suppressing COVID-19. On February 7, 2021, the SE was lifted off in the Tochigi Prefecture, while in other prefectures, it continued till the end of February.

Studies conducted during the first pandemic wave have evidenced that full-service restaurants and bars contributed to the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is unclear whether this early evidence applies to the present situation. Further, it is difficult to separate the effects of closing restaurants and bars and other SARS-CoV-2 intervention policies.

Nevertheless, during winter 2020- 2021, Japan was an ideal laboratory to explore the effects of the early closure of Japanese pubs and bars and determine the incidence of symptoms indicative of COVID-19.