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On December 28, 2020, the Prime Minister held the 50th meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, the participants discussed the response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
 
Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said:

"We will soon enter the New Year’s holiday period for the first time since our battle against the novel coronavirus began. Against this backdrop, coronavirus variants thought to be highly infectious have been confirmed in numerous countries around the world, and some of them have also been detected in Japan from those who have returned from overseas. In response, we reinforced our border control measures this past weekend and beginning today we suspended in principle the new entry of foreign nationals from all countries and regions.

With regard to these coronavirus variants, there are three points that I want the citizens to know. First is its high degree of transmissibility. According to the UK government’s assessment, the new variant in the UK may be up to 1.7 times more infectious than the one we have been battling until now. Some experts point out that in the UK, many versions of novel corona viruses have been replaced by this new variant. Second is on the effectiveness of vaccines. At this point in time, as far as we know, there is no evidence showing that the vaccines currently being given overseas do not work on the new variant. Third, preventive measures against infection remain fundamentally the same as the ones we have been using until now. I ask the citizens to take preventive measures such as wearing masks and washing their hands even more thoroughly, to refrain from attending gatherings, and to spend the New Year’s holidays quietly.

Also, we will ensure that medical services are available during the New Year’s holiday period. The number of health professionals on duty is unavoidably reduced over the holidays. We will, however, make consultation centers being operated at local public health centers, and certain other facilities, able to provide services around the clock even over the New Year’s holidays, so that necessary tests and treatments are provided to those needing them. We are collaborating with local doctors’ associations and other groups and have secured a structure for treatment through night and holiday clinics and by opening medical institutions on a rotating basis, while also ensuring a certain level of screening at private testing institutions to be provided.

Regarding the novel coronavirus, as we are in the middle of winter, many countries continue to face a very severe situation. Viruses do not care about the New Year’s holidays. I ask all the ministers to thoroughly implement countermeasures over the New Year’s holidays with an even higher sense of urgency so that we can restore our daily lives at the earliest possible time with the cooperation of the citizens."