Japan expands virus emergency, weighs legal penalties

NY Post ^ | 08/17/2021 | AP

[ChicagoConservative27]

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga officially expanded and extended the nation’s coronavirus state of emergency on Tuesday, as government advisers recommended legal changes that would allow penalties for violations.

The measures, approved by a government task force, add seven prefectures to the six areas already under a state of emergency and extend it to Sept. 12.

Ten other prefectures were put under a “quasi-emergency,” which had previously encompassed six prefectures, bringing about two-thirds of the nation under some form of emergency as COVID-19 infections “explode” across the nation, in Suga’s words.

Hospitals have been stretched thin and some seriously sick people have been turned away. More than 15,000 people are confirmed to have died from the coronavirus.

[ChicagoConservative27]

But but I thought they all wore masks 24/7????????

[cgbg]

It is just a coincidence that they just had the Olympics there...

[hanamizu]

But but I thought they all wore masks 24/7?

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Wearing a mask when you feel even slightly ill is considered common courtesy in Japan. They have an aging population, and I don’t think many have been vaccinated. Don’t know if the Olympics had any effect, since there was zero attendance at the games.

[sushiman]

I wear a mask only when I am forced to , like when I see a doctor , got to a bank , etc...I have not gotten the vaccine and neither has my wife . We are both in our 60’s . I did notice that during the Olympics fewer people were wearing masks , although the majority were for sure . Perhaps they had a false sense of security because the the Olympics was being held ?