Tokyo state of emergency lifted
TOKYO (Reuters) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday said Japan would lift a state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas, but it could be reimposed if the pace of infections picks up.
Social distancing curbs were loosened for most of the country on May 14 as new infections fell, but the government has kept Tokyo and four other prefectures under watch.
Abe also told a news conference that the total amount of stimulus from two economic packages would exceed 200 trillion yen, but it would still take considerable time to get back to normalcy while controling infection risks.
He added that Japan had managed to get the coronavirus infection under control in just one and a half months, in its own way, and that this showed the strength of the “Japan model.”
Earlier yesterday, Japan’s economy minister told reporters that the government had received approval from key advisers to remove the state of emergency for all remaining regions.
“While the emergency state will be lifted, it is important to expand economic activity in stages as we establish a new way of living,” Yasutoshi Nishimura said.
Nishimura added that the head of the advisory panel had recommended close monitoring of Tokyo, Kanagawa and Hokkaido prefectures, where cases have fluctuated.
The world’s third largest economy has escaped an explosive outbreak with more than 16,600 infections and 839 deaths so far, according to NHK public broadcaster; however, the epidemic has tipped it into a recession and plunged Abe’s popularity to multi-year lows.
An Asahi newspaper poll conducted over the weekend showed Abe’s support rate at 29 percent – the lowest since he returned to power in late 2012 – and disapproval at 52 percent.
The results mirrored a Mainichi newspaper survey published last Saturday.
A government task force was set to convene following Abe’s news conference, and the lifting state of emergency would take effect after that meeting.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike had previously said the capital would move into “stage one” of loosening restrictions, once the state of emergency was removed. That would allow libraries and museums to reopen, and restaurants to stay open until later in the evening.
Tokyo reported eight new infections yesterday, media said.