Japan gov't to give financial aid for shorter hours as virus surges

The Japanese government will financially support shops and restaurants that are asked to shorten their business hours in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Monday.Suga's pledge came as Hokkaido officials agreed to ask residents of Sapporo in Japan's northernmost main island to refrain from nonessential outings following back-to-back days of record infections in the region.Speaking at a meeting of the government's coronavirus task force, he said the government plans to use 50 billion yen ($480 million) for the support program should local au…READ FULL ARTICLE