Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:
As of 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 2
- Japanese prefectural governors on Saturday called on the new central government to strengthen the health care system, as the easing of COVID-19 restrictions could cause another resurgence of infections.
- The Japanese government will, from this month, start experimenting with using proof of COVID-19 vaccination at eateries and other places in 13 prefectures after it relaxed restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.
As of 11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1
- Although businesses got the go-ahead to ease coronavirus restrictions when the Japanese government fully lifted its state of emergency on Friday, experts are still unsure why infection numbers have receded from their peak, bringing concern a resurgence may follow.
- Major Japanese companies formally offered jobs Friday to students set to graduate from universities and other schools in the country next spring, welcoming them in online ceremonies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
- Business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers improved for a fifth straight quarter as the economy emerges from the COVID-19 downturn but component shortages weighed, the Bank of Japan said Friday.
- Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency was fully lifted on Friday, making it the first time since April that the entire country is not under the measure to curb infections.