On the first day of emergency-level "priority measures" against the novel coronavirus implemented Monday in six cities in Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures, many restaurants and bars closed their doors at 8 p.m. as requested. In some of the cities, civil servants patrolled nightlife districts.
In Sendai, a "closed" sign was put up on the door of ramen shop Menya Takejiro in Miyagino Ward at around 7:40 p.m. Neighboring establishments also closed their doors, and several would-be customers left, looking disappointed.
Since March 25, restaurants and eateries in Sendai had been asked to close after 9 p.m., but their business hours were shortened to end at 8 p.m. when the priority measures were implemented.
"We've already been losing customers since last year, and closing even an hour earlier will do a lot of damage. Give us a break," the ramen shop owner lamented.
Suppliers are also struggling. Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Grocery Support in Aoba Ward said it received notice from 70% of its customers that they were suspending their business due to the priority measures.
"We have no money to survive on for the next month," a Grocery Support representative said. "Wholesalers are really suffering, too."
In Osaka's Umeda, one of the biggest entertainment districts in the Kansai region, seafood izakaya bar Tetsutaro set up a sensor to monitor the CO2 level at its entrance, to ensure that the door is open when needed for ventilation before the CO2 level rises due to the exhalations of an increasing number of customers.
Noise meters have also been placed at the tables for groups, and they light up when the volume of conversation reaches a certain level
"Customers find it fun as it looks like a game," the izakaya manager said.
On the other hand, the izakaya has not been able to install acrylic panels as required and also to ensure its customers to wear masks while dining.
"We are thinking of installing panels [with subsidies], but still feel uncomfortable as customers may not be able to relax with the partitions," he said. "We also find it uncomfortable to frequently ask our customers to wear masks."
City officials began patrolling eateries to check the status of infection control measures in Sendai and Osaka, as well as Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
In Sendai's Aoba Ward, Miyagi prefectural government officials and others entered Japanese restaurant Hayase to check whether acrylic panels and disinfectant supplies were installed, whether the restaurant was thoroughly ventilated, and whether customers wore masks except while eating.
The Miyagi prefectural government and the Sendai city government will send a total of 80 officials to visit about 10,000 businesses in Sendai during the period of priority measures until May 5.
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