Photo/Illutration Shigeru Omi, who heads the government's expert panel on the COVID-19 pandemic, speaks at a news conference on Nov. 16. (Reina Kitamura)

The government's proposed program to ease anti-virus restrictions for people who are fully inoculated against the novel coronavirus or have tested negative for the virus was approved by its expert panel on the COVID-19 pandemic on Nov. 16.

The government is aiming to strike a balance between anti-virus measures and social and economic activities even in the event of a resurgence of infections.

However, some panel members said they are worried that the program relies too heavily on vaccinations and testing to keep the virus from spreading.

“Concerns were raised over putting too much confidence in the program,” Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association who is also a member of the panel, told reporters after the panel's meeting. “The program needs to be operated with care.”

Some members submitted opinions to the central government that called for considering whether to suspend the program depending on the situation in an area deemed at Level 3 on a scale of 5 under the new guidelines on assessing the infection situation.

Level 3 requires a declaration of a state of emergency.

The program would target people who received their second COVID-19 vaccine shots at least 14 days prior or were confirmed not infected with the virus in diagnostic tests taken within three days.

For the time being, the government would not set a period of validity for the certificates.

Business operators seeking to ease anti-virus restrictions in an area covered by a COVID-19 state of emergency or pre-emergency measures would need to register with a local prefectural government before using the program.

The operators would then ask customers to show proof of vaccinations or negative test results.

The central government plans to allow users of the program to loosen anti-virus restrictions even in areas under an emergency declaration.

Bars and restaurants certified by prefectural governments as having taken appropriate infection-prevention measures would be allowed to operate until 9 p.m. and serve alcohol even under a state of emergency. There would be no limits on the number of diners each group could have.

Event organizers would be able to fill venues to capacity as long as they compile infection prevention plans. Travel across prefectural borders would also be permitted.

However, the proposed outline states that when a surge in infections is likely to strain the health care system, the central and prefectural governments would decide not to allow business operators to use the program and to ask them to implement strict anti-virus restrictions.

Shigeru Omi, who heads the panel, said at a news conference after the meeting that it would become necessary to review the program in the future. He stressed the importance of thoroughly monitoring the infection situation when using the program.

The central government will officially decide on the draft outline at its task force meeting to be held as early as Nov. 19.

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