Photo/Illutration Shoppers follow marked signs and keep a safe distance while forming a line in front of a cash register at a supermarket in Hiroshima on April 19. (Akina Nishi)

The government on April 23 requested governors nationwide to call on retailers to take steps to limit congestion in their premises by restricting access and making shoppers form lines outside as a preventive measure against COVID-19 infection.

Hotel operators and other businesses in the accommodation industry will likely be asked by governors to shut down during the Golden Week holiday period that ends May 6 to reduce the health risk, the government said.

Under the one-month state of emergency that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued nationwide April 7 to contain the deadly novel coronavirus, supermarkets and shops in local commercial districts are not required to suspend operations.

With hordes of customers flocking to supermarkets and grocery stores at all hours and creating a potential health hazard, a panel of experts advising the government on how to handle the outbreak called April 22 for stricter steps to be implemented.

Under the recently revised special measures law, Abe is empowered to ask governors to urge private businesses to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the virus.

Accordingly, the government notified each governor in writing to take initiatives and secure the cooperation of retail operators.

The government suggested that operators take steps to ensure that customers keep a safe distance from each other in shopping aisles and while waiting to pay for their purchases at cash registers.

Under the state of emergency, residents can go about their daily business activities so long as they are deemed essential. This includes shopping for food and other basic commodities as well as seeing a doctor.

The guidelines will remain in place, the government said.

At the same time, the government hopes its renewed request to governors will have some effect on relieving congestion in shopping areas. It is also asking the public to shop alone if possible and to avoid the busiest times of the day.

The government issued guidelines about the operation of accommodation facilities to each governor.

Hotels and other accommodation facilities are deemed essential and allowed to continue operating under the state of emergency. However, traveling for nonessential purposes and sightseeing are not.

With Golden Week looming, the government told governors they can request accommodation businesses to shut down. Japanese traditionally go travelling during the holiday period.

Pachinko parlors, businesses that provide a type of pinball that allow winners to cash in on their winnings and which are normally packed with players seated in close proximity, represent another urgent problem for the government.

The revised special measures law allows a governor to prohibit the use of facilities that do not cooperate with the authorities and publicly name them.

The government specifically told governors to post information on errant facilities--name, address and reasons--on their prefectural government’s website. If a case is deemed of urgent public interest, the targeted business owner will not be granted an opportunity to explain and defend his or her action.

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