Passengers using contactless devices at airports and train stations, and the reappearance of a major tour company's sightseeing buses in Tokyo, were among the sights seen Monday, the first day after the end of an extended second state of emergency for the capital and the neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama.
At Haneda Airport's Passenger Terminal 1, Japan Airline's four automatic check-in machines and two luggage check-in devices were replaced with the types that can be operated without touching a screen. A person can simply hold a finger above a specific place on the screen and a sensor will detect the movement.
"The device can be operated very smoothly and it was relieving that I didn't have to touch it," said a 19-year-old man from Adachi Ward, Tokyo, who was heading to Okinawa with his friends. "I will be careful to prevent getting infected during our trip, too."
The number of passengers aboard domestic flights at Haneda Airport fell by 78.4% year on year in January, when the second state of emergency was declared. JAL reduced the number of flights by 40-60% from the initial plan in January and February, but it plans to gradually bring back some flights, while installing contactless devices at other airports.
At JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, a thermographic thermometer has been installed near an escalator on the platform where about 90% of Nozomi Shinkansen trains from Tokyo arrive. Passengers' temperatures are automatically measured and when the reading exceeds 37.5 C, the person will be advised to consult a public health center or medical institution.
Tokyo's major sightseeing bus operator Hato Bus Co. had suspended all tours since the declaration of the state of emergency, but resumed operations Monday, with three tours taking passengers to cherry blossom viewing locations and other tourist spots.
The passengers are requested to take infection prevention measures such as checking their temperature, sanitizing their hands and wearing masks. They also are not allowed to eat or drink on the bus.
"The central and local governments will work together to fully implement infection prevention measures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a regular press conference on Monday.
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