“(3) Pandemic Prevention
“1) Refraining from leaving home (except for going to workplaces, as mentioned later)
“i) The Prefectures under Specific Cautions, in particular, will request cooperation in refraining from leaving home to “reduce the contact among people by 70% at minimum or 80% ideally.” (Activities necessary for maintaining daily life and health, such as visiting hospitals, purchasing food, medicine and daily necessities, going to workplaces as necessary, exercising outdoors or taking a walk, are excluded.)

“ii) All designated prefectures will:

• “request citizens to refrain as much as possible from moving to other prefectures for reasons such as non-urgent and unnecessary homecoming visits or trips
• “discourage citizens from visiting eateries with hospitality services in downtown areas where many clusters have actually emerged
• “carefully avoid the “3Cs” while also taking basic measures to prevent infection, such as handwashing and maintaining social distancing between people
• “inform residents using the “Ten tips for reducing contact by 80 percent,” “New lifestyle practices (examples),” etc. presented by the Expert Meeting

“2) Restrictions on holding events
“All designated prefectures will make requests not to hold events where clusters could emerge or have gatherings under 3Cs circumstances, especially in cases of nation-wide or large events and gatherings.

“3) Restrictions on using facilities(related to restricted events mentioned earlier, excluding schools and other facilities mentioned later
“i) Prefectures under Specific Cautions will issue requests to follow restrictions on the use of facilities that may cause infections to spread. If such requests are not met and no justifiable reason is given, prefectures will issue further requests and instructions based on the Act, and publicize the fact.

“Additionally, considering the impact of the extended measures on society, the economy, and the lives and health of the citizens, the Governors of each prefecture may make appropriate decisions on opening facilities such as museums, art galleries, libraries and outdoor parks.

“ii) In designated prefectures that are not included in the Prefectures under Specific Cautions, decisions will be made based on the local situation from the viewpoint of preventing the spread of infections and maintaining socio-economic activities.

“iii) Business operators and related organizations will take voluntary measures to prevent infection that take into account both sustainable actions for the future and recommendations from the Expert Meeting.”

Source: Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control by the Government of Japan (Summary), March 28, 2020 (Revised on May 4, 2020). Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Government of Japan. From the web at https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html, last accessed May 14, 2020.

“4) Going to workplaces
“i) Particularly in Prefectures under Specific Cautions, working in rotations at workplaces that require employees to come to work and teleworking will be strongly encouraged to reduce contact, including aiming for a “70 percent reduction in employees coming to work.”

“ii) Based on the expectation that all designated prefectures will need sustainable measures in future:

• “Measures to reduce contact with people, including teleworking, staggered work hours, and bicycle commuting, will continue.
• “Workplaces will be encouraged to put thorough measures in place to prevent infections and avoid the 3Cs [closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings].
• “Businesses engaged in work essential for ensuring the stability of people’s lives and the national economy (examples given in the attachment) as well as businesses supporting such work, must continue operating, depending on the characteristics of the businesses, while taking comprehensive measures to prevent the spread of infections, including measures to avoid the 3Cs.”

Source: Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control by the Government of Japan (Summary), March 28, 2020 (Revised on May 4, 2020). Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Government of Japan. From the web at https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/newpage_00032.html, last accessed May 14, 2020.

Links for More Information About Japan’s National COVID-19 Strategy:

Prime Minister of Japan and Cabinet: Government Responses on the Coronavirus Disease 2019

Prime Minister of Japan and Cabinet: Ongoing Topics: Useful Information on the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems in the US and several other nations.

Page last updated Nov. 25, 2020 by Doug McVay, Editor.