EAST ASIA SEES RETURN OF RESTRICTIONS

TOKYO Compared with the United States and Europe, countries in East Asia have been held up as success stories in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

But in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, governments are reimposing restrictions this week, as public complacency, policy blunders and colder weather fuel a new surge in virus cases.

Japan is scaling back a contentious subsidy program designed to encourage domestic tourism and dining out.

In Seoul, officials ordered bars and nightclubs to close and limited dine-in service at cafés and restaurants this week, after an earlier easing of restrictions allowed the virus to roar back. Hong Kong also closed bars and nightclubs.