TOKYO (UCAN): The Archdiocese of Tokyo continues with its Covid-19 safety measures even after Japan’s government lifted its fourth state of emergency at the end of the September.
Archbishop Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi said on September 24 that churches in Tokyo would continue to implement measures against Covid-19 infections in all parishes. He noted that even though some priests and laypeople had been infected and some had died during the state of emergency, no infections had been reported as a result of Church activities.
Referring to Pope Francis’ appeal for people to get vaccinated, Archbishop Kikuchi insisted on people being vaccinated before visiting churches. However, he said that “we have not decided to make vaccination mandatory” for attending church services.
Japan’s Covid-19 state of emergency for 19 prefecture-level cities and regions including Tokyo, in place since April, expired on September 30 and former prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, announced the lifting of the emergency on September 28, local media reported.
The government also lifted a quasi-emergency in eight prefectures while considering whether to allow governors to implement counter-measures against the Covid-19 coronavirus even after the emergency is lifted.
Japan has recorded 1.7 million infections and 17,551 deaths from Covid-19, according to government data. Some 72.5 million Japanese or about 57.4 per cent of the population have been fully vaccinated.
