With recorded daily Covid-19 infections having risen to over 2 500, Japan is reversing some of the measures introduced to stimulate the economy.
Among these was a domestic tourism programme Go To Travel. This subsidised tourist activities and was aimed at giving a boost to the hard-hit travel and leisure sector. Between late July and the end of October, some 40 million people used it.
Over the weekend, the government announced that it would halt the programme where it went to areas with rising infections. Appeals were also made to local governments not to issue related Go To Eat coupons.
While Japan has had fewer than 2 000 fatalities from the pandemic, fears are growing in the country that the rise in infections could see this number growing. There are also fears that medical facilities in those areas hit by the new infections could struggle to cope.
Critics have charged that the government’s actions are tardy. Prof Yoshito Niki, a visiting professor of infectious disease at Showa University, told the media: ‘The review came late. It should have been conducted at least two weeks ago.’
Prof Niki also called into question the planning around the move, saying it was not clear exactly which areas would see travel restricted.
He added that there seemed to be little sense of urgency in the country to deal with the problem.