TOKYO: Japanese health minister TAMURA Norihisa expressed his belief on Sunday that the government will be able to lift its novel coronavirus state of emergency at the end of the month as currently scheduled.

Citing factors such as the recent downtrend in the number of new infection cases, Tamura said on a television program, “We can realize…the removal of the state of emergency at the end of September.”

The COVID-19 state of emergency is in place in Tokyo and 18 prefecture.

But Tamura called attention to the risk of infection cases resurging toward the winter and asked the public to continue to avoid activities that increase infection risks.

He said the relaxation of restrictions on citizens and businesses after the lifting of the state of emergency needs to be implemented in stages, partly in line with the results of demonstration tests the government plans to conduct due to progress in COVID-19 vaccinations.

In preparation for the winter, Tamura stressed the importance of establishing temporary medical facilities, securing medical personnel and creating a system of giving treatment at home.

While acknowledging a certain effectiveness of booster vaccine shots, the minister said the government will examine the scope of citizens who will be advised to receive such doses.

He also mentioned the need to study the possibility of lowering the minimum age of people who can be inoculated, in view of the risk of children spreading infections at home.

JIJI Press