The Japanese government has declared a quasi-emergency in three prefectures where the coronavirus is quickly spreading. Local municipalities are imposing stricter antivirus measures in response to a spike in cases. The targeted restrictions will be in place from Sunday through the end of this month.

The southwestern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has decided on measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including shortened business hours of eateries.

Officials in Okinawa will request that eateries with certified anti-infection measures in place close by 9 p.m., and uncertified establishments close by 8 p.m. and refrain from serving alcohol.

Certified businesses that comply will be provided 25,000 yen, or about 210 dollars, per day, while uncertified establishments will be given 30,000 yen, or about 250 dollars.

People in the prefecture will be asked to refrain from visiting eateries that do not comply with the request. They will also be asked to shun crowded and other high-risk areas and to avoid non-essential cross-prefectural travels.

Students at prefectural schools will attend classes on alternate days. Extracurricular activities will, in principle, be suspended.

Local government officials will ask companies and business organizations to reduce the number of commuters through measures such as teleworking and staggered working hours.

Yamaguchi Prefecture has decided to apply intensive anti-coronavirus measures to the city of Iwakuni, which hosts a US military base, and the neighboring town of Waki.

The prefecture officials will request eateries in the areas to be subject to quasi-emergency measures to close by 8 p.m. and stop serving alcohol. Establishments that comply will be subsidized.

People in the prefecture will be asked to be cautious when deciding whether to travel to and from areas where infections are increasing.

Residents of Iwakuni and Waki will be asked to reduce their outings by half.

Hiroshima Prefecture has decided to implement targeted coronavirus restrictions in 13 cities and towns.

A prefectural government taskforce decided that targeted restrictions will apply to the cities of Hiroshima, Kure, Takehara, Mihara, Onomichi, Fukuyama, Otake, Higashihiroshima, Hatsukaichi and Etajima. The measures will also be adopted in the towns of Fuchu, Kaita and Saka.

Bars and restaurants in the 13 cities and towns will be asked to close at 8 p.m., and refrain from serving alcohol.

The prefecture will ask establishments with unavoidable circumstances to start cooperating with the request by January 11.

Businesses that comply will be eligible for assistance funds.

Depending on the size of sales, small and mid-sized dining establishments will receive 30,000 to 100,000 yen, or about 260 to 860 dollars, per day. Large operators will receive up to 200,000 yen, or about 1,700 dollars, per day.

Attendance caps for large-scale events will be in place from January 11. Crowd sizes will be limited to 5,000 or half capacity, whichever is lower. Organizers whose anti-infection plans are confirmed by the prefecture will be able to fill their venues with up to 20,000 people.

Organizers will be asked not to sell new tickets for events that do not meet the conditions.