Photo/Illutration Staff at a karaoke bar in Sendai sanitize a microphone after resuming business operations on May 7. (Shigetaka Kodama)

Most prefectures not listed under the central government’s “special precautions” areas to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are moving to relax their requests for businesses and other facilities to shut down.

According to data collected by The Asahi Shimbun, 26 of the 34 prefectures exempt from the government’s special category will ease their restrictions.

Eight of the 26 prefectures have decided to lift the curbs in their entirety, citing the central government’s revised guidelines that allow for such decisions to be based on local circumstances.

By easing the rules, these governments hope to bolster economic recovery while maintaining efforts to prevent a spread of the virus.

On May 7, the Miyagi prefectural government lifted its request for restaurants, karaoke parlors, live music venues and other facilities to shut down or shorten business hours.

"I have seen more and more businesses financially at the end of their tether," said Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai, explaining the background to the decision.

Kochi prefectural government adopted the same policy.

Kochi Governor Seiji Hamada said the decision was based on the fact that not a single case of new infection had occurred in the prefecture since April 30.

The number of in-patients at hospitals has fallen off as well. Hamada offered assurances that the prefectural medical system faced little risk of collapse.

Eighteen prefectures have lifted or decided to soon lift their restrictions, except for certain types of businesses.

Many local governments will still request restaurants where staff serve customers to remain shut, along with pachinko parlors and fitness clubs.

Prefectural authorities in Fukushima, Nara, Oita and Okinawa will continue to request that businesses remain closed.

Related News