Tokyo to rely on expert panel for Covid-19 policy

Japan’s capital said it would move away from numerical targets to contain Covid-19 and rely more on the advice of experts to avoid another economic slowdown.

Tokyo, which has a population of 14 million, tried to keep new cases below 20 a day after Japan ended a state of emergency on May 25.

But it had five days of more than 50 new cases in a row as of yesterday, when 54 infections were reported.

Tokyo is two weeks into a final phase of easing restrictions and officials said they saw no need to declare another state of emergency.

They also said the city’s medical system could handle the present caseload and that increased testing was partly responsible for increasing infection numbers.

“It’s an extremely different situation from what it was at the end of March when patient numbers were increasing rapidly, but we still must be watchful,” said Governor Yuriko Koike as she announced new measures would start today.

Tokyo will move away from numbers-based determinations in its fight against Covid-19. Instead, a panel will evaluate the situation on a weekly basis.

“Our medical and testing systems have both been fortified,” Ms Koike said.

“We are aiming to be able to both keep on top of the virus and keep economic activity going.”

Tokyo, like the rest of Japan, had a lower rate of infection than many countries.

The capital reported 6,100 cases and 325 deaths and Japan had about 18,500 cases and about 970 deaths.

Ms Koike, whose popularity surged as she dealt with the outbreak, will stand for re-election on Sunday. Her campaign has been mostly digital to avoid gatherings.

Governor Yuriko Koike said Tokyo had strengthened its medical and virus testing capabilities