The Saitama prefectural government intends to pay 25,000 yen a day to dining establishments that participate in a trial run of a central government program to relax restrictions on people who can prove they have been vaccinated against or tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
According to the Cabinet Secretariat, restaurants and other dining establishments in 12 prefectures, including Saitama, will participate in a trial run of the so-called "vaccine and PCR testing package" program. Saitama is the first prefecture to announce details of its participation, including the payment of remuneration to dining establishments.
The Saitama prefectural government made the announcement Thursday at a briefing session for about 50 operators of dining establishments in Ageo in the prefecture. The trial run is scheduled to take place in Ageo on Oct. 22-31.
Saitama Prefecture said it envisioned the participation of up to 50 dining establishments certified by the prefectural government, and would encourage businesses to take part by paying remuneration.
Starting at 5 p.m., participating dining establishments will be required to separate the areas used by customers who have been confirmed to be vaccinated or to have a negative test certificate, and the areas used by people without such documentation.
The dining establishments will not restrict the time when alcohol is served to customers who have been vaccinated or have a negative test certificate, nor limit the number of such customers allowed in.
They will also ask customers, regardless of whether they have such certificates, to cooperate in a follow-up survey to monitor any change in their physical condition. In return, cooperating customers will receive discount coupons and other perks.
A 63-year-old operator of a Chinese restaurant in the city who attended the briefing session said the amount of remuneration "will cover the cost" of joining the trial run. He said he is considering giving a discount to customers who have gotten vaccinated.
A woman in her 70s who operates an izakaya Japanese-style pub in the city will not take part because her pub "has only counter seats for five or six customers, so it would be difficult to separate the space that way."
The prefectural government will accept through Tuesday applications for dining establishments to participate in the trial.
Other 11 prefectures are working on their respective details.
The Kyoto prefectural government is in discussions with 23 Japanese restaurants in Kyoto City, while the Kumamoto prefectural government will conduct the trial run targeting banquet customers at three hotels.
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