Okinawa raises alert to highest level and extends the prefecture’s state of emergency
The Okinawa Prefectural Office
August 13, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo Digital Edition
Okinawa Prefecture announced August 13 that they were raising their COVID-19 alert level to the highest of their 4 levels, “rampant spread,” and have extended Okinawa’s state of emergency, originally scheduled to expire August 15, through August 29. However, as Okinawa enters its busiest part of the year for tourism, they have not enacted restrictions on travel from outside the prefecture.
Of the seven indicators that determine the alert level in Okinawa, with the exception of “percentage of hospitalizations for seriously ill patients,” and “percentage of patients whose conditions have worsened within a week of hospitalization,” five of the indicators have reach the status of alert level 4.
In previous examples of the alert level in Okinawa being raised to level 4, Okinawan residents were asked to stay at home, and travel restrictions from outside the prefecture were put in place. Since the Okinawan economy is centered mostly around tourism, there were some who raised their voice in opposition to strict travel restrictions as part of the increase in alert level.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
Previous Article:Drones help news reporting on Schwab and impacts of military exercises
Next Article:Arrows of light visible in the summer night sky
[Similar Articles]
- Okinawa prefectural government expert committee recommends continuing call for visitors to avoid travel to Okinawa, suggests “coexistence with coronavirus”
- Okinawa announces 3 of their COVID-19 warning indicators have reached the level of “Widespread Infection,” points to large group parties as primary risk factor
- “Return to normal” Okinawa Prefecture lifts restrictions, returns to coronavirus alert level 1
- Two months with zero international visitors
- Okinawan travel commodities sold at Natas Fair in Singapore
Webcam(Kokusai Street)
