As the number of coronavirus infections soars to unprecedented levels, Japan will allow prefectural governments to take stronger COVID-19 measures tailored to their own needs, Daishiro Yamagiwa, the minister in charge of the government¡¯s COVID-19 response, announced Friday.
Governors can declare that their prefectures are in need of measures to counter the BA.5 subvariant when their health care systems are severely strained, such as when a prefecture¡¯s hospital bed occupancy rate tops 50%, he said.
But the move is not meant to restrict people¡¯s movement or business activities, Yamagiwa said, noting that the goal is to achieve infection control and the continuance of economic and social activities at the same time.
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