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Hiroshima City extends temporary closure of 44 public facilities, including Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, until February 7

by Shuhei Inomata and Uzaemonnaotsuka Tokai, Staff Writers

Hatsukaichi City also restricts use of its facilities

On January 15, the Hiroshima City government announced it would extend temporary closure of 44 public facilities, including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Naka Ward), with large, unspecified numbers of visitors from both inside and outside of the city, until February 7. This decision follows the Hiroshima Prefecture government’s extension of the period during which intense countermeasures are to be taken against the coronavirus to contain its spread. The city government also decided to close the doors of 167 facilities, such as community centers and sports facilities, earlier than usual, at 8:00 p.m. Nearby Hatsukaichi City will join Hiroshima in extending the period of restricted use of its public facilities until February 7.

The Hiroshima City government will temporarily close Hiroshima Castle (Naka Ward), the Asa Zoological Park (Asakita Ward), and Hiroshima’s ward community cultural centers and ward libraries, among other public facilities. Facilities that handle generally more than about 500 visitors a day fall under the temporary closure guidelines. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will continue to accept individuals and groups that have made reservations in advance. The Hiroshima Velodrome will hold races without spectators.

Users of libraries can borrow and return books only through use of a paid delivery service. The return date for library books will also be extended, to February 21. The Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, located in the city’s Naka Ward, is to extend its temporary closure period.

The temporary closure of such facilities started in the middle of December last year and was originally scheduled to conclude on January 17.

In addition, Hiroshima City will close community centers, welfare centers, and gyms, as well as outdoor facilities such as athletic parks and baseball fields, one to two hours earlier than usual, starting January 18, in an effort to have Hiroshima citizens refrain from going out after 8:00 p.m. If members of the public have already obtained permission to use the facilities and have difficulty canceling or postponing the plans, they will be allowed to use the facilities even after 8:00 p.m.

In Hatsukaichi City, the Hatsukaichi City Cultural Hall Woodone Sakurapia and other facilities will halt the acceptance of new reservations. The city government will call on those who have already made reservations to voluntarily refrain from using the facilities.

(Originally published on January 16, 2021)

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