Japan's Osaka, two other prefectures begin month-long stricter Covid-19 measures

People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk in Osaka, western Japan, Friday, April 2, 2021. Semi-emergency coronavirus measures began in Osaka and its neighboring prefecture in western Japan and another prefecture in the north Monday, April 5, 2021 as Japan tries to minimize the economic impact to specific areas where infections are rising back less than four months before the Tokyo Olympics. - AP

TOKYO, April 5 (Xinhua): Stricter measures came into effect on Monday for three Japanese prefectures in an effort to combat a resurgence of Covid-19 cases under a revised law that does not require declaring a state of emergency.

The tougher measures effective for one month until May 5, cover Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures, with prefectural authorities requesting restaurants and bars to shorten their opening hours and close by 8:00 p.m. and customers asked to wear masks while conversing.