The Kanagawa prefectural government will end its business suspension request for every type of facility when the central government lifts the state of emergency for Kanagawa and four other remaining prefectures, Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa said on Friday.
Kanagawa's approach is different from that of the Tokyo metropolitan government, which will lift its request for businesses to suspend operations in phases, according to its road map announced the same day.
Kuroiwa said if the declaration is lifted on Monday, his prefectural government will end its request at the start of Wednesday, allowing time for the move to become widely known.
The prefectural government will ask businesses to take measures to prevent coronavirus infections based on the guidelines it has compiled, and also to ensure they close by 10 p.m. The lifting of limits also applies to nightclubs and live music venues.
Three other prefectural governments also announced their measures on Friday. The Chiba prefectural government will gradually lift its business suspension request in phases, like Tokyo.
Chiba has categorized stores and facilities into four groups from A to D based mainly on the risk they could pose. Those in group A, which are deemed to have the lowest risk of spreading infections, such as libraries and museums, were eligible for reopening on Friday. The prefectural government will consider every week whether suspension requests can be lifted for facilities in the other groups.
The Saitama prefectural government announced which businesses can reopen by using four criteria, such as the number of newly confirmed cases within the prefecture and Tokyo, and the percentage of beds occupied by patients with severe symptoms.
The Hokkaido prefectural government said it will end its suspension request for operators such as libraries and small-size commercial facilities on Monday.
While such places as karaoke studios and dining and drinking establishments where customers are served up close are not eligible, "We'll review our measures by keeping an eye on steps taken by the central government," Gov. Naomichi Suzuki said.
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