Proposed Okinawa Prefecture Covid plan: group meal limits, rules lifted for certified shops, eased restrictions on events with alcohol. (28se22)


Splendor of Okinawa: Oleander, roadside Uruma, 26se22


The Expert Panel on Covid-19, chaired by Hideki Kuniyoshi, concurrently chairman of the Prefectural Health and Environmental Research Committee, held its joint meeting on 27 September. The Panel discussed  revisions to Okinawa Covid Response Plan due by 30 September. Improvement is being seen in the situation of the spread.


By and large, the members expressed understanding of the proposed changes submitted in the Prefecture’s plan, such as lifting the “No more than 4 people for 2 hours” rule for group meals, but only at certified shops. But they stopped short of considering lifting the “Extraordinary Health Situation Declaration”, which has continued for over 2 months. On 29 September, the Prefecture will formally decide on the recommendations at a Response Headquarters meeting.


The changes proposed by the Prefecture revised such wording as “As much as possible, group meals with large numbers of people over a lengthy time should be avoided.” Moreover, the proposal lifts group meal limits for certified shops. However, the request for changes in hours open from sponsors of events where alcohol is provided was denied. The basic “Infection Prevention Safety Plan” submitted was also watered down. In addition, the rules for avoidance of contact with the elderly and group activities were also lifted.


However, some also strongly raised voices of concern, such as, “The phrase ‘as much as possible’ is ambiguous” and “Events held mainly for drinking alcohol will end up with a free pass.” It was also pointed out that there is a fear that there will be an outbreak of influenza along with Covid this winter. 


Governor Denny Tamaki explained that, if the infection response is not effective, “Our basic premise is that the easing of the alcohol rules will be rescinded.” He implied that  he could reimpose restrictions later if the situation warranted. In order to improve the sluggish vaccination rate, awareness among the youth will be promoted and, hereafter, topics will be worded for an overall simplified understanding, within their grasp, of the infectious conditions and such.


Original Japanese article: Okinawa Times, published Wednesday 28 September 2022 at 09:24. Byline: Takayo Taira.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d8c6af015ed36c65862316d9e2a50135dc5f4b06


Denny in the News: news about Governor Denny Tamaki.

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 

  1. This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 

  2. Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.

  3. Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In the suit over exercise of proxy in the case of the weak seabed at the new Henoko base, judgment to be handed down on 20 December. (4de23)

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Shrubby Bush Clover, roadside Uruma, 30no23 The seabed at the new base construction site at Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, is weak and needs reinforcement. So, the Okinawa Defense Bureau requested permission for the necessary design changes, but Governor Denny Tamaki refused. In response, the Government intends to exercise proxy to give itself permission in place of the governor. The Naha Branch of the Fukuoka High Court announced on 29 November that it will hand down its judgment in the lawsuit filed over the case at 2 pm on 20 December. At the trial on 30 October, Governor Denny Tamaki emphasized in the first oral arguments, “We can in no way accept this exercise of proxy, which violates the autonomy and independence of Okinawa.”  He further stressed the will of the prefecture’s people in opposition to the new base construction as the ‘Public will’. In addition, he requested to show that the  path to resolution lay in dialogue. The trial was conclud...
Read more

Governor Denny receives the report on JUNGLIA at the 4 month mark after its opening. (7de25)

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Temple Tree, Mihama Beach, 1de25 CEO Takeshi Kato of Japan Entertainment (JE), which manages JUNGLIA Okinawa, visited Governor Denny Tamaki at the Prefectural Office on 28 November.  　 The CEO reported on the 4 months since the attraction’s opening. He repeatedly brought up dealing with operational improvements and such based on the voices of visitors to the park.  　 The CEO specifically mentioned the evening concerts in the park’s garden and, starting from December, the free entry of one child with each adult, targeting the prefecture’s people. CEO Kato stated, “We’d like to be contributing to Okinawa’s tourism as well.” Governor Tamaki, alluding to his speech the same day, entitled “Declaration on Sustainable Tourism”, stated, “For the people, employees, and tourists of our prefecture, this is an important win-win format. We’d like to have JE’s cooperation in many, many more initiatives.” Original Japanese article: Ryukyu Shimpo, published Sunday 30 Nov...
Read more

In Okinawa, Candidate Takara takes hold of the Henoko opposition parties as their new face, urging,”Let’s earnestly come to grips with these issues together.” (21jy25).

Image
Splendor of Okinawa: Mexican Petunia, Gushikawa RC Church, 13jy25. In the House of Councilors Election for the Okinawa Election District, independent candidate Sachika Takara (46), endorsed by All Okinawa, which opposes the relocation of the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, scored a victory. She defeated the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Party’s new candidate Ryo Okuma (38) in the election campaign.  Candidate Takara pledged before her supporters, “The Henoko problem is something our prefecture’s people have taken into our hearts. We’re going to earnestly come to grips with it together.”  With their eyes on a victory in next year’s gubernatorial election, her victory was a bitter blow to the LDP. Governor Denny Tamaki, who held the job of Candidate Takara’s campaign headquarters chief, stressed, “The will of the people in opposition to the relocation remains unshaken.” In recent mayoral elections, All Okinawa’s fortunes ha...
Read more