Covid-19 in Japan: when religious rites raise fears of an outbreak of contaminations

Audio 02:27

In Tokyo, many Japanese went to temples to celebrate the New Year.

AP

By: Bruno Duval

4 min

In Japan, which is facing a particularly virulent third wave of the coronavirus epidemic, the authorities are on the alert.

They fear a surge in the number of contaminations in the coming days because, as tradition dictates, tens of millions of Japanese have gone to pray in temples and shrines since January 1.

This religious ritual, the most important of the year, therefore risks having catastrophic health consequences.

• Japan

• Coronavirus