The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
New state of emergency declared
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa early Thursday evening in response to the increase in novel coronavirus infections. Suga said the state of emergency would remain in force from Friday Jan. 8 through Feb. 7.
The prime minister urged residents in the areas covered by the state of emergency to refrain from going out after 8 p.m. if not necessary. The central government is coordinating with local governments for them to pay up to ¥60,000 per day to restaurants that close by 8 p.m., as “cooperation money” for eating establishments that accept requests to shorten their operating hours.
The government’s advisory committee on basic action policy held a meeting Thursday morning to discuss the contents of the emergency declaration and the draft revisions to the government’s basic action policy. The committee deemed that it was reasonable to issue the declaration.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the economic revitalization minister who is also in charge of the government’s COVID-19 countermeasures, said at the meeting: “We will not suspend a wide range of economic activities. Instead, we will implement effective measures for situations that have a high risk of infection, focusing on gatherings involving eating and drinking.”
The prime minister declared a state of emergency at a meeting of the government’s coronavirus task force early Thursday evening, after giving prior notice to the Diet.
A state of emergency is declared under the special measures law to cope with new strains of influenza. This is the second declaration, following the state of emergency that was in force from April 7 to May 25 last year. Last time, the Tokyo metropolitan government asked a wide range of facilities and businesses, including karaoke establishments and live music clubs, to suspend their operations. Some local governments asked elementary, junior high and high schools to close for that period.
To minimize the impact on the lives of the people and the economy, the government will not request a wide range of business suspensions and school closures this time around.
According to the draft revisions of the basic action policy, the government is calling for residents to avoid nonessential outings, particularly after 8 p.m. Restaurants will be requested to shorten their business hours and close by 8 p.m. It is also stated that alcoholic drinks should not be served after 7 p.m.
The government is considering including commercial facilities that do not sell daily necessities among those requested to shorten their business hours. It also plans to revise the ordinance so that it can reveal the names of restaurants and other businesses that refuse the request for shorter business hours.
The draft also calls on companies to promote telecommuting, with the aim of reducing by 70% the number of employees at offices. The government plans to limit the attendance at sports and other events to 50% or less of capacity, and a maximum of 5,000.
Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures are currently at the highest alert level, Stage 4, for the spread of infections. The government intends to lift the declaration after the level is lowered to Stage 3. (Issued on Jan. 8 in print.)
7 PREFECTURES ADDED
The government added seven prefectures on Wednesday evening to the current state of emergency stemming from the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Aichi, Gifu, Fukuoka and Tochigi prefectures were added to the state of emergency, which will last through Feb. 7. This is the same period as for Tokyo and the three prefectures in the Tokyo metropolitan area where a state of emergency has already been declared.
The addition brings the total to 11 prefectures. The government aims to strengthen measures mainly in large urban areas.
The state of emergency is based on the law on special measures against new strains of influenza. Suga consulted with the expert Advisory Committee on Basic Action Policy on the additions Wednesday afternoon.
After informing the Diet of the plan, Suga formally issued a declaration at the governmental headquarters for measures against the coronavirus. After that, the prime minister held his third press conference this month, calling for public cooperation.
Nishimura stressed the need for the additions. “There are several prefectures other than Tokyo and the three prefectures where countermeasures for Stage 4 [the most serious infection situation] have become necessary,” Nishimura said at the lower house’s Committee on Cabinet on Wednesday morning.
With the state of emergency declared, the governors of the additional prefectures can request restaurants, bars, karaoke establishments and other businesses to close at 8 p.m. Those that comply will be paid up to ¥60,000 a day as a cooperation fee.
There are no penalties under the current law for businesses that do not comply, but municipalities can publicize their names.
The government is asking such businesses to stay open only until 8 p.m. and serve alcoholic beverages only until 7 p.m., the same as in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The government also is calling on people to refrain from going out unless necessary and to work from home.
On Jan. 9, the governors of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures asked the government to add their prefectures to the current state of emergency, citing the pressure on their medical systems. On Tuesday, the governors of Aichi, Gifu and Tochigi also asked the government to include their prefectures.
The government decided to add Fukuoka Prefecture to the six prefectures that had requested inclusion, as the infection situation is worsening there.
According to data released by the Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday, the occupancy rate of hospital beds for coronavirus patients was more than 75% in Hyogo Prefecture, nearly 70% in Osaka Prefecture, and over 60% in Aichi Prefecture as of Monday, indicating that the disease is spreading. (Jan. 14)