In California, the western part of the United States, vaccination with the new coronavirus has progressed, and most restrictions such as restrictions on admission to stores have been lifted, saying that new infections have been suppressed, and economic activity has resumed altogether.
Since the state of emergency was declared in March last year due to the spread of the new coronavirus, California has been subject to restrictions such as restrictions on admission to restaurants and commercial facilities to prevent the infection.
However, the state government lifted most of the restrictions on the 15th, saying that vaccinations have progressed and new infections have been suppressed, and economic activity has resumed altogether.
As a result, store admission restrictions have been lifted, and retailers and tourism, which have been hit hard, are looking forward to a recovery in business performance.
In California, people who have been vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks, but they are still required to wear masks when using public transportation such as railroads, buses, and planes.
Regarding the resumption of the economy, Governor Newsum of California commented, "We don't need to keep a distance from each other and we don't need admission restrictions.
In the United States, admission to restaurants and museums was lifted in New York last month, accelerating the resumption of economic activity against the backdrop of progress in vaccination.
Japanese companies also change from working from home to going to work
As economic activity resumes in California, local Japanese companies are shifting their work style from home-based to office.
Many Japanese companies have expanded into Silicon Valley, California, where cutting-edge IT companies are gathered, and 15 companies are occupying shared offices operated by the IT giant Rakuten Group.
Japan Airlines, which moves into this office, has been working mainly at home since March last year when two employees were infected with the new coronavirus, but on the 15th, economic activity resumed completely in California. We have switched to a policy of changing the work system to an office in principle.
Yusuke Himoto, director of the Japan Airlines Silicon Valley Investment Strategy Office, said, "It was a year when I felt the importance of meeting face-to-face. In the future, I hope to integrate online and face-to-face well and proceed with my work." ..
From the 14th, the cafeteria was reopened for the first time in a year and three months, and employees were busy preparing for lunch.
Mr. Tominaga of Rakuten Americas, who runs the office, said, "We have finally reached this day. We want Japanese companies to provide information and work with peace of mind."