Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday called for citizens across Japan to avoid evening spots like bars and restaurants, NHK reported, in a ratcheting of social distancing guidance to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
The nationwide call for citizens to stay home in the evenings follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures last week.
Abe has been gradually tightening guidance, seeking to lessen the impact on the economy as it is hammered by the pandemic, leading to criticism that he has been too slow to act and risks having the virus spread out of control.
Tokyo, the current centre of Japan’s coronavirus outbreak, identified more than 190 new coronavirus cases yesterday, topping Friday’s record high of 189 cases, NHK said. 
SoftBank to supply 300mn masks per month: SoftBank Group Corp CEO Masayoshi Son said he has secured a monthly supply of 300mn face masks for Japan after reaching a deal with Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co, which has also started producing masks.
From next month, SoftBank will supply two different kinds of mask, initially for medical staff, in cooperation with the Japanese government’s “mask team”, set up to tackle shortages due to the coronavirus outbreak, Son said on Twitter.
SoftBank, which last month said it was donating 1.4mn masks to New York state, will supply the masks without taking a profit.
Addressing the supply crunch is a priority for the Japanese government, which will begin delivering two washable masks to households next week – a move that has been widely criticised on social media as inadequate.
The government is also targeting domestic production of 700mn disposable masks.
Son, who has a long history of partnering with and investing in Chinese firms, said BYD is setting up a new line to produce the masks.
BYD’s production capacity has reached 15mn masks a day, a company spokeswoman said, confirming the firm will supply masks to SoftBank.
SoftBank’s supply will consist of 100mn N95 masks, which can filter very small particles, and 200mn regular surgical masks.
The coronavirus pandemic has spurred Son’s return to Twitter, where he has complained that Japan’s response is being spearheaded by politicians rather than scientists and polled users on their view of the government’s response – adding to pressure to increase social distancing measures.