Tokyo, Dec 6 (TIWN) Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday vowed to "prepare for the worst" in dealing with the Omicron Covid-19 variant, while still promoting the economic recovery of the country.

In his policy speech at the beginning of an extraordinary parliamentary session, Kishida also voiced hope for further debate on constitutional revision and pledged to conclude a sweeping review of security policy in about a year, reports Xinhua news agency.  Although the Covid-19 situation in Japan has significantly improved, Kishida warned of 'new risks including the confirmation of the Omicron variant across a number of countries'.  'We will maintain our stance of being cautious and prudent,' the Prime Minister said, adding Japan has added 10,000 hospital beds for Covid patients since the summer and would possibly approve the use of an oral treatment drug later this month.  He said the digital certificates for people who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 would be ready to give out on December 20 by the government.  Referring to a decision to ban new entries of foreigners into Japan due to concerns over the Omicron variant, Kishida said he is 'ready to accept criticism that I'm being too cautious before we have an adequate grasp of the situation'.