Japan's Covid-19 Restrictions Unchanged Despite Omicron

jpnn.com, JEPANG - The Japanese government is not considering changes to Covid-19 restrictions, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Thursday, one day after transmission of the Omicron variant was discovered in the country.

On Wednesday, the government confirmed that three people in an Osaka city family had been infected with Omicron and that the origin of the transmission could not be traced.

On Thursday, the governor of Tokyo prefecture, which is adjacent to Osaka, said a community infection had been confirmed in a woman in her twenties, and authorities were investigating seven of her closest contacts.

The government has started preparations to expand free testing to those who show no symptoms, in a bid to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, Jiji news agency reported on Thursday citing an unnamed government source.

The chairman of Japan's Covid-19 Advisory Committee, Shigeru Omi, urged people to exercise caution before traveling or gathering with relatives during the holiday season.

"Now that the Omicron strain has been confirmed as a community-acquired infection, there are concerns that it may spread further, so please be cautious when holding year-end or New Year's parties" he told reporters. (ant/dil/mcr20/jpnn)

This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Jepang Tak Ambil Langkah Ekstra untuk Hadapi Omicron