Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga confirmed that the government has expanded the state of emergency to seven more prefectures: Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Aichi, Fukuoka, Gifu and Tochigi, in response to the recent worrying increase in new positive cases of VIDOC-19. The state of emergency had already begun in Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba on January 8, and is scheduled to last until February 7.
The new state of emergency now covers eight of Japan's ten most populous prefectures, which means more than half of the country's population. Suga also confirmed that the government has decided to close the borders and suspend any entry of foreigners to its lands. The government had already denied entry to foreigners from most countries last month due to the spread of a new variant plus COVID-19 virus. However, last month's denial of entry did not apply to business visitors from China and nine other Asian countries.
However, last month's denial of entry did not apply to business visitors from China and nine other Asian countries. Japan has now also denied entry to all visitors from these countries, except for special reasons, such as funerals or the birth of a family member. It is worth mentioning that the Ghibli Museum announced at the same time that its reopening, scheduled for January 15th, will be delayed until January 22nd on a provisional basis. Tickets will go on sale one week in advance, on January 15th, however, this decision is taken as the watershed for possible future postponements in all industries in Japan.
Sources: NHK (link 2), Ghibli Museum
