Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to speed up coronavirus vaccine booster jabs, secure imported supplies of drugs to treat Covid-19 and reorganise medical facilities to respond to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.
Mr Kishida, who took office in October, said he had ordered strict border controls from November to buy time for such preparations.
Japan has basically shut out incoming travel except for returning residents and Japanese nationals.
The response to the contagious Omicron variant will now shift to domestic measures, such as making free coronavirus tests more readily available, while border controls will continue, he said.
“I just offered prayers so that we may overcome the coronavirus pandemic and this year will be a fantastic year for all of you,” he told reporters after praying at the Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture, south-west of Tokyo.
Japanese leaders visit the picturesque shrine complex at the start of every year, although Mr Kishida’s predecessor Yoshihide Suga cancelled the move last year because of the pandemic.
Mr Kishida said the oral drug from Merck has been distributed to thousands of hospitals, and efforts were under way to procure the Pfizer oral drug as well, for use starting next month in treating symptomatic coronavirus cases.
“I want to make this year one of dramatic challenges to forge ahead with a new era. But in areas where we need to exercise caution, we must not forget the humility to proceed with caution,” Mr Kishida added, noting care was needed for a proper pandemic response.
He said everyone who tests positive for Covid-19 and needs hospital treatment will be speedily admitted, while those who can recover at home should do so, monitored by medical professionals.
Other facilities will also be readied for those who do not need to go to hospital but do need to quarantine, depending on symptoms, he said.
Although Covid-19 cases and deaths have fallen lately in Japan, worries are growing about another “sixth wave” of infections because of the Omicron variant.
Airports, shopping districts and shrines have been jam-packed with New Year’s revellers, in contrast to last year when people generally stayed at home.
About 80% of Japanese citizens are fully vaccinated, but booster shots have barely begun. Some people in Japan died at home last year when hospitals were stretched thin. Japan has recorded more than 18,000 Covid-19-related deaths.
“We will take proactive steps so that we are fully prepared, and our nation can all work together to overcome, without feeling an excessive fear of the Omicron (variant),” said Mr Kishida.
On other issues, Mr Kishida said he stood by his “new capitalism” policies as bringing about a more vibrant Japan.
The world’s third-largest economy has stagnated in recent decades, and the coronavirus pandemic has made things worse.
Mr Kishida said Japan will go through “a second founding” by encouraging start-ups, digital technology and moves to combat climate change.
In recent decades, Japan has been ruled almost entirely by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Mr Suga stepped down after just a year in office, partly because of public disapproval about inadequate pandemic measures.
Shinzo Abe, Mr Suga’s predecessor, was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Mr Abe stepped down for health reasons in August 2020.
The question remains whether Mr Kishida can stay in power, or Japan will revert to what has been called “a revolving chair” of leaders.
