TOKYO: The Japanese government Thursday decided to fully lift its request for voluntary restrictions on traveling across prefectural borders, introduced in response to the new coronavirus outbreak, as planned on Friday.

The decision was made at a meeting of the government's coronavirus response headquarters.

Participants also confirmed a plan to ease COVID-19 entry restrictions for Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked related ministers to "make all-out efforts to revive social and economic activities while keeping in place measures to prevent virus infections."

It is important to reopen the international flow of people in stages while taking thorough border control measures, Abe said, showing the government's wish to gradually expand the scope of countries and regions subject to the easing.

He also said that a smartphone app developed in preparation for a possible second wave of coronavirus infections will become available Friday.

"The app can be used without worries as it acquires no personal information at all," Abe said, calling on the public to use the app, which informs users of possible close contact with coronavirus carriers.

The government plans to ease coronavirus-related restrictions in stages every three weeks in a transition period to July 31 that started when the country's coronavirus state of emergency was fully lifted May 25.

Also on Friday, restrictions on larger-scale events with up to 1,000 participants, such as concerts and exhibitions, will be lifted.

"We're steadily moving toward new lives in the age of COVID-19," Abe said.

Many local governments across Japan are poised to accept tourists from other regions gradually. But some remain cautious, particularly over visitors from places with relatively many infection cases, such as Tokyo.

JIJI Press