Governor Tamaki calls for people to “refrain from visiting relatives for Obon” as Okinawa looks to implement new COVID measures, increase the speed of vaccination distribution

Governor Tamaki calls for people to “refrain from visiting relatives for Obon” as Okinawa looks to implement new COVID measures, increase the speed of vaccination distribution

Governor Denny Tamaki announcing new COVID-19 measures – August 12, at the Okinawa Prefectural Office


August 12, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

With the rapid spread of a new wave of COVID-19, Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office on August 12, where he announced new coronavirus measures such as a plan to increase the speed of vaccine distribution. He specified that they were aiming to have 50% of all Okinawans receive at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of August, and to have 70% of people with at least one dose by the end of October. He also called on people to celebrate the Obon festival from August 20-22 with their families over the phone or online, and to refrain from visiting relatives in person.
The measure Okinawa prefecture had previously taken to close all public prefectural buildings until August 15 will also be extended to the end of the month. He is also asking large institutions to close over the weekend August 14-15, in line with the previous policy.
The vaccination distribution plan is in line with the national plan to get everyone vaccinated by November. Governor Tamaki explained, “I want the cities and towns to keep progressing along continuously.”
As of August 11, 33.5% of Okinawans have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Okinawa Department of Health director Reiko Oshiro said of the midway goal of 50% by the end of August, “Recently we surpassed 10,000 shots in a single day in Okinawa, so we are within the realm of possibility.”

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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