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Coronavirus

Japan asks drugstores to prevent medicine hoarding by tourists

Government fears COVID-hit Chinese visitors might disrupt painkiller supply

Drugstores in Tokyo and elsewhere in Japan are being asked to prevent the hoarding of over-the-counter medicines by foreign tourists. (Photo by Keigo Yoshida)

TOKYO -- The Japanese government has requested that drugstores and other retailers take steps to prevent hoarding of fever medications and painkillers used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19.

The request did not mention any specific countries, but there have been reports of Chinese tourists in Japan buying up inventories of over-the-counter medications in response to the rapid spread of infections in China.

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