Seven prefectures have been newly decided to be added to the target area of the state of emergency as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus.
The period is about three weeks from the 20th of this month to the 12th of next month, but in the prefectures adjacent to the metropolitan area, there are voices complaining of "familiarity" and "tiredness" with repeated declarations, prolonged shortened working hours, and requests for leave. I was also asked if the effect would be improved.
This is a report from the field.
<Ibaraki Prefecture>
Ibaraki Prefecture issued its own "state of emergency" on the 16th, before being added to the target area of the state of emergency on the 20th of this month.
The reason is that the spread of infection has become a serious disaster-grade situation.
In response to this, the prefecture's facilities will be temporarily closed from the 18th, and preparations were made for the closure on the 17th.
Even though it's summer vacation ...
Of these, the Prefectural Library in Mito City made a standing sign on the 17th with the period of closure, etc., and installed it at the front entrance.
When the museum is closed, you can reserve the book you want to borrow online and receive it at the special window provided at the staff entrance, and you can use the return post as usual.
The museum will be closed until the 31st of this month, but it may be extended depending on the future situation.
User "sad" "I'm in trouble because I don't have a place for my child"
A junior high school student in Mito City, who usually uses the library, said, "I still have a lot of books I want to read, so it's a little sad to close until the 31st."
The mother of a junior high school student said, "I used to come here because there is a cafe and it's a neighborhood. When it's closed, I'm in trouble because I have nowhere to go during my child's summer vacation."
The museum is also closed
The Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art in Kitaibaraki City will also be closed from the 18th, and a sheet to inform the temporary closure has been attached to the signboard and banner of the exhibition being held near the entrance.
Deputy Director Hiroshi Kanazawa said, "In order to overcome the difficult situation of the spread of infection, we ask for the understanding and cooperation of all users, and we hope that it will resume as soon as possible."
<Tochigi Prefecture>
In Tochigi Prefecture, many restaurants are already closed due to the application of "priority measures such as prevention of spread" from the 8th of this month. Measures such as canceling the offer have been taken.
However, as the infection of the new coronavirus continues to spread rapidly, it has been added to the target area of the state of emergency, saying that stronger measures are needed.
Screaming in "Gyoza no Machi" "Situation where deficit is inevitable"
Utsunomiya City is known as the "town of Gyoza" because the purchase price of Gyoza per household has become the highest in Japan.
At the Gyoza store at the entrance of the shopping district in the city center, we are planning to decide the business policy after the 20th according to the request of the prefecture, but the deficit is inevitable because we have to discard the alcoholic beverages that have already arrived. about it.
Hiroki Yamamoto, manager of the Gyoza store "Naruto", said, "It's meaningless unless everyone cooperates and keeps in mind that they don't go out when an emergency is declared, and we just can't do business. I feel that this will continue for many years to come, and I hope that everyone will follow the rules and this will be the final declaration. "
Also, a second-year high school girl who was walking in the shopping district said, "I'm careful, but I think I'm less nervous. I have a school trip, but it doesn't change to a different place. I hope I don't do it. "
A male office worker in his 50s said, "I'm doing the same thing every time, and I feel that the situation is getting worse. I wonder if the declarations so far have worked, and I need stronger measures. I wonder if there is any. "
At Nikko Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
The hotel, which is under strict management at Kinugawa Onsen in Nikko City, one of the prefecture's leading hot spring areas, has voiced anxiety because the future is uncertain.
At "Kinugawa Grand Hotel Yume no Ki" in Kinugawa Onsen, the number of guests this month has dropped to less than 20% of the average year due to the influence of the fifth wave of the new coronavirus.
This hotel was closed from January to February, when the second state of emergency was declared in Tochigi Prefecture, but this time in addition to the fact that reservations for families etc. have already been made, employees As I couldn't keep my motivation, I decided to continue business while taking measures against infection.
However, as the period of emergency declaration in the Tokyo metropolitan area has been extended and Tochigi Prefecture has been added to the target area, there are days when there are no reservations at all later this month, so the recovery of guests cannot be expected. It's a situation.
President Emi Hagi said, "For the past year and a half, the measures taken have hardly changed, and I am only asked to refrain from doing so every time I declare an emergency. I can borrow money with a loan, but I have to return it later. Don't do it. While the flow of people is restrained, the situation is that management will have to repay. "
<Gunma Prefecture>
Gunma Prefecture, where it was confirmed on the 17th that 238 people were newly infected with the new coronavirus.
Some inns in Ikaho Onsen, Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, continue to operate after taking infection control measures due to the progress of staff vaccination.
Ikaho Onsen Ryokan "Protect Employment"
"Washin no Yado Omori" was closed for about a month during the state of emergency last year, but this time around 90% of the staff have been vaccinated. It means accepting guests during the period of the declaration.
As a countermeasure, the number of guests accepted at this ryokan has been limited to about 60% of the capacity, and the restaurant that is attached to the ryokan has been closed since May.
It is said that the reservation was not canceled from the 16th to the 17th, but in the future, the number of guests accepted will be reduced to about half of the capacity and the infection control will be strengthened.
Takahiro Omori, chairman of the inn, said, "We are working with the idea of securing employment and not stopping employees, so we have no choice but to take all possible measures against infection, welcome customers, and survive. We will do our best until the new corona converges. I want to. "
<Tokyo> Even on an island about 1000 kilometers away
Since the number of patients with the new coronavirus is increasing in Ogasawara Village, Tokyo, which is about 1000 kilometers away from the city center, we have decided to issue a state of emergency unique to the village from the 24th of this month and strongly demand that we refrain from visiting the island.
In Ogasawara Village, there were no infected people until the middle of last month at the end of November last year, but in the week until the 13th of this month, a total of 7 people, including 5 islanders and 2 visitors, were confirmed. Are one after another.
No medical institution that can treat Murauchi
Since there is no medical institution in the village that can treat patients with the new corona, the village will declare an emergency situation unique to the village from the 24th of this month to next month in order to take intensive measures in a short period of time to control the infection. It will be released until the 6th.
As for measures, we strongly urge you to refrain from visiting the island for sightseeing or work, or even if you are an islander staying in Tokyo, refrain from returning to the island unless there are special circumstances.
We also want the islanders who are currently staying in Tokyo to return by regular boat departing from Takeshiba on the 24th of this month, and to avoid gatherings with anyone other than their families after returning.
Ogasawara Village says, "We will give top priority to the containment of infection, and will take a strong determination to regain the island where villagers can live with peace of mind and tourists can visit."
How can we protect our lives and the local economy while thoroughly implementing infection control measures?
Efforts are continuing in various places.