Nintendo’s Tokyo store has closed amid Japan’s latest COVID-19 measures

Nintendo’s Tokyo store has closed to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The store had previously reduced its operating hours in an attempt to limit the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, but the store has now confirmed it will close for the foreseeable future alongside the entire Parco department store.

While Japan’s overall infection figures are low compared to the US, China and parts of Europe, cases of COVID-19 in Tokyo have surged in the last week.

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe has declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures this week, The Guardian reports.

The measures enable authorities to urge people to stay at home except to shop for food, seek medical care, go to work if necessary, and take daily exercise.

In response to the measures Japan’s CERO game ratings board has shut down.

The organisation said that because it’s not possible for it to conduct examinations remotely, all game screenings including those under review will be suspended for the period of closure.

The closure could delay Japanese release schedules for the rest of the year, although according to one Japan-based localiser it may only influence titles planned for the end of 2020.

“As AAA publishers often send games to be reviewed months in advance, Japanese experts say the temporary closure of the Japanese video game rating board, CERO, will mainly affect publications in the later half of the year,” said Robert Sephazon. “It may not have an effect on upcoming releases.”