Event capacity will remain capped at 5,000 people through the end of August, the government decided Wednesday, citing the rising number of new cases nationwide.
The government decided to postpone the easing of its capacity guidelines, which was to have taken place Aug. 1, after having discussions with a government panel of experts on measures against the novel coronavirus.
"While keeping them in place through the end of August, we will make a judgment [on when to ease them] based on the number of new cases during this period," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a meeting of the government's task force later in the day.
Currently, the guidelines state that for any event indoors or outdoors, such as a concert or professional sports match, up to 5,000 spectators or 50% of the venue's capacity are allowed, whichever figure is lower.
The panel concluded that the nation "has not yet faced an explosive spread of infections." It also judged that the nation's medical services "would not immediately fall into a perilous situation," citing the fact that the number of patients with serious symptoms is small.
During a press conference following the meeting, Shigeru Omi, head of the Japan Community Health care Organization who leads the panel, was asked about the current situation regarding coronavirus infections in Tokyo.
"It is most appropriate," he said, "to regard the number as being on a gradual rise."
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