Japan is set to introduce new multi-city COVID-19 curbs in order to contain the fast growing spread of the omicron variant. The country is seeing a surge in crowding of public places, which is believed to be the top reason for the coronavirus spike.

Japan has never had a lockdown during the pandemic but has focused instead on asking restaurants and bars to close early, according to reports from Associated Press.

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A spokesperson for the government said that the new order is likely to be put in force by Friday. The new COVID-related restrictions are expected to include areas like Yamaguchi, Okinawa and Hiroshima and about a dozen others. The curbs will last for three weeks, the spokesperson added.

Hirokazu Matsuno, the Chief Cabinet Secretary said that additional restrictions– including mandated quarantine– may also be rolled if cases continue to rise.

Japan’s vaccination figures present a mixed picture. While 80% of the eligible Japanese population has received two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 1% have been administered with the booster dose. 

The government has promised to speed up boosters, but most people would not be getting them until after March or later, under the current schedule, according to reports from Associated Press.

The third dose is recommended particularly against omicron, which is causing more breakthrough infections than earlier forms of the virus.

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More than 20,000 new cases were reported Monday nationwide, showing cases are rising quickly because of omicron. Most experts think the case tally is an undercount because testing is not widespread. Nearly 134,000 people are now quarantining or hospitalised for COVID-19, according to reports from Associated Press.

About 18,400 people have died from COVID-19. The recently reported daily cases in Japan are approaching the record numbers hit in August and September last year.

(With AP inputs)