NEWS
JAPAN’S BAN ON SERVING ALCOHOL NOW COVERS 70% POPULATION AS STATE OF EMERGENCY WIDENED
By Susan Lewis
17-5-2021
Credit: David Mathews
Hokkaido, Okayama and Hiroshima joined Tokyo, Osaka and four other prefectures from yesterday under a state of emergency where serving alcohol is banned in pubs and restaurants.
The latest measures will affect about 70 percent of Japan’s population, under curbs such as an 8 p.m. closing deadline for eateries and a ban on serving alcohol.
To last until 31 May, the extension of the state of emergency to three more prefectures reflected growing concern about the spread of the the coronavirus.
The latest declaration comes as Japan grapples with a surge of a more infectious virus strain just 10 weeks before the Tokyo Olympics are due to start on 23 July.
Researchers in Japan think that drinking in bars and restaurants will help promote the spread of the coronavirus.
"When alcohol is involved, people's voices get a lot bigger," said Makoto Tsubokura, who leads a team at research giant Riken and Kobe University that uses supercomputers to model infection situations.
Loud voices, plus lapses in hygiene and a tendency to linger at the bar, all contributed to increased risk of aerosol contagion, Tsubokura added.
Under this round of state of emergency, department stores, cinemas and other commercial facilities larger than 1,000 square metres will need to close while companies will be asked to allow staff to work from home.
Breaching the restrictions will carry penalties under a recently revised law. Schools will remain open.
Japan did not impose curbs on alcohol consumption in its first two pandemic emergency declarations. It started to ban alcohol when Tokyo, Osaka and four other prefectures first entered into this third round of state of emergency on 25 May.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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