The government called on the public to take thorough infection prevention measures during the three-day holiday starting Saturday, amid a rapid surge in novel coronavirus cases.
At a press conference on Friday morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato urged people to be careful of situations in which the risk of infection is increased, such as long meals in large groups, and stressed the need for wearing masks and washing hands.
For people dining in groups, he recommended "'quiet masked dining,' during which people should speak only while wearing masks."
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura said at a press conference on the same day, "If people avoid going to high-risk places, or protect themselves thoroughly in such places, the risk can be reduced to some extent."
The government plans to continue balancing pandemic measures and economic activity.
Go To stimulus campaigns to boost demand will be continued with infection prevention measures in place.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a plenary session of the House of Councillors on Friday that he will not consider reviewing the campaigns at this point.
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