岸田首相、マスク着用見直しに言及　「どこまで緩和できるか考える」

　岸田文雄首相は１３日の日本テレビの番組で、新型コロナウイルスの月内の感染状況を見極め、６月にも行動制限を緩和する方針を改めて示した上で、「マスクについてもその流れの中で論点の一つとして考えなければいけない。どこまで緩和できるかしっかり考える」と述べた。首相がマスク着用緩和の可能性に言及したのは初めて。
　首相はまた、水際対策について「大きな関心は（外国人）観光客にいつからどれだけ入ってもらうか。できれば近いうちに実証実験をやって準備を進め、来月以降に備えていきたい」と語り、月内に団体ツアーの実証実験を行う考えを示した。（2022/05/14-00:41）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a television program Friday referred to the possibility of the government easing its standards for people to wear face masks to prevent infection with the novel coronavirus.
   While reiterating the government's plan to relax its restrictions on movement as early as in June after confirming the infection situation this month, Kishida said: "In the process, we also need to think about masks as one of issues for discussion. We will fully consider how far we can ease (the mask standards)."
   It was the first time for Kishida to mention the possibility of relaxing the mask standards.
   On border control measures against the virus, Kishida said, "Our major focus is when (foreign) tourists should be allowed to start coming to Japan and how many tourists should be accepted," adding, "We hope to conduct an experiment (on group tours) shortly if possible as part of preparations so that we can get ready for next month and later."
   The TV program was recorded Friday evening and aired late at night. In a parliamentary committee meeting Friday morning, the prime minister said, "I'm not considering easing the mask standards."