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The Japanese government has announced the easing of requests to refrain from going outside for people in self-isolation because they have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
Such infected people are now allowed to go out to shop for groceries for short periods of time as long as conditions are met, such as the wearing of masks.
The shortening of the isolation period, announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday, and the relaxation on the going-out requests went into effect Wednesday, including for people currently in self-isolation.
The government decided on the relaxation based on discussions at a meeting of an advisory body to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry held Wednesday.
“We need to monitor the risks, but we also need to increase economic and social activities,” health minister Katsunobu Kato said during a press conference after the meeting.
