The government on Thursday announced a pandemic exit strategy that will ease restrictions on travel, dining and public events for vaccinated people in a bid to reignite the economy, restore public morale and incentivize inoculations.
The plan will reportedly begin on an experimental basis as early as October and then become fully operational in November. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said that by November vaccines will have been administered to all people who wish to receive a shot.
Earlier Thursday, Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister leading the country’s pandemic response, announced that the country’s state of emergency will be extended in 19 prefectures from Sunday until Sept. 30.