Updated On: 22 January, 2022 07:46 AM IST | Tokyo | Agencies
The restraint, something of a pre-state of emergency, is first since September and is scheduled to last to February, one-third of country is under restrictions

People walk on a street lined with bars and restaurants in Tokyo on Friday. Pic/AP
Restaurants and bars will close early in Tokyo and a dozen other areas across Japan beginning Friday as the country widens COVID-19 restrictions due to the omicron variant causing cases to surge in metropolitan areas.
Under the latest measure, most eateries are asked to close by 8 or 9 p.m., while large events can allow full capacity with anti-virus plans. In Tokyo, certified eateries that stop serving alcohol can stay open until 9 p.m. while those serving alcohol must close an hour earlier. Restaurants that close at 9 p.m. and don’t serve alcohol receive 30,000 yen ($263) per day in government compensation, while those that close at 8 p.m. get 25,000 yen ($220) per day.