‘Heed instructions,’ says embassy as Japan’s Abe declares emergency
THE Cambodian Embassy in Japan has called for its nationals living there to take heed to the Japanese authorities’ instructions to maintain good health and vigilance after a state of emergency was declared in seven prefectures due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The state of emergency covers Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures and will be in effect from April 8 to May 6. The decision was made after a spike in coronavirus cases in Japan.
“Please cooperate and heed the call of the Japanese authorities to be steadfast and on alert while on your trip.
“Take good care of your health, maintain good hygiene, avoid big gatherings and practice social distancing,” the embassy stated in a notice on Wednesday.
It said the Japanese government is asking people in the seven prefectures to stay indoors. Exceptions to the rule can be made for buying food or going to work, the bank or hospital.
Japanese authorities have also asked people to work from home if possible. They recommended avoiding closed areas without air circulation, crowded areas and close contact with others.
The embassy quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying: “The declaration of emergency does not have the purpose of shutting down cities like shutting down cities abroad.
“Public transportation, including trains and buses, public services such as water, electricity, gas, telecommunications, are still operating. The governors of the provinces and city will exercise their authority in accordance with the law on special measures,” he said.
On Tuesday, the PM’s Office of Japan Twitter account said: “I believe we will surely overcome this situation if we reduce people-to-people contact by 70 per cent, ideally by 80 per cent.”
There are more than 16,000 Cambodians citizens in Japan. Of that number, 913 are students, more than 10,800 are trainees and workers, and 4,900 permanent residents.