Staffers checking tickets and vaccination certificates are seen at the entrance of a venue for the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu's Kokurakita Ward, on Oct. 27, 2021. (Mainichi/Emi Aoki)

       TOKYO -- The Japanese government has decided to remove the attendance cap for events, on condition that operators formulate coronavirus infection prevention plans and implement vaccine certificate and negative test checks.

       The government had asked prefectures to restrict event attendance to 50% of venue capacity or 5,000 people, whichever was higher, in areas not covered by full or quasi-coronavirus states of emergency. Under a state of emergency, the upper limit was 5,000 spectators within 50% of venue capacity, and under a quasi-state of emergency, the limit was 5,000 people.

       The government is considering reviewing these restrictions in response to the increasing vaccination rate and decreasing COVID-19 cases. If an infection prevention plan is in place, admission of up to 10,000 people will be allowed under a state of emergency, and 20,000 under a quasi-state of emergency. Furthermore, event operators may fill a venue to capacity if they also implement the "vaccine/test package" system, in which guests can show vaccine certificates or a negative test, even under emergency declarations.

       All attendance restrictions will be lifted in areas not under a state of emergency or quasi-state of emergency.

       Government-sponsored demonstration tests of the vaccine/test package program have been carried out across Japan since October at major events including J-League soccer matches and live music shows to see if restrictions could be eased. As no major issues have emerged, the relaxed measures will be expanded nationwide.

       (Japanese original by Aoi Hanazawa, Political News Department, and Sooryeon Kim, Lifestyle and Medical News Department)

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