Japan expands state of emergency on coronavirus as infections rise

Japan expands state of emergency on coronavirus as infections rise

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The country registered 4,527 new cases and 51 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the national total to almost 300,000, with a death toll of 4,158. More than 61,500 patients are in hospitals across the country, who have struggled to cope with an increase in cases caused in part by low winter temperatures.

Tokyo, previously one of the hardest hit areas, reported 970 new cases on Tuesday, the first time the Japanese capital’s daily count has dropped to less than 1,000 in more than a week. The total number of confirmed cases in Tokyo is now 77,133.

A state of emergency was previously declared for Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa last week, to remain in effect until February 7.

The new announcement expands the order to Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Aichi, Gifu, Tochigi and Fukuoka, covering much of the main Japanese island of Honshu. In total, eleven municipalities are under emergency measures.

The state of emergency mandates that companies encourage their employees to work from home and reduce the office population by 70%. Residents in affected areas should also avoid non-essential tours and restaurants should stop serving alcohol at 7pm and close at 8pm

Sports and entertainment events in Japan should also limit the number of participants.

Suga called for public cooperation after announcing the expanded measures on Wednesday.

“I hope that people understand that this is an indispensable measure to improve this difficult situation. We will do whatever is necessary. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to your life with so many restrictions, but we have to overcome this ”, he told the press conference.

“I would like to ask for the cooperation of the people.”

However, unlike several other countries that have introduced blockades and measures of social detachment, Japan lacks many legal powers to enforce government orders. The country is also battling coronavirus fatigue, having been one of the first to be hit by the pandemic, and mixed messages in recent months.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called for public cooperation after announcing the expanded measures on Wednesday.
“Japan’s response is very slow and confusing, which reflects a lack of leadership and strategy. On the one hand, they encouraged domestic travel and eating out, on the other hand, they just asked people to be careful,” Kenji Shibuya, director from the Population Health Institute at King’s College London, said earlier this month. “The government is basically asking people voluntarily to behave properly, but it doesn’t do more than that.”

Speaking after the Tokyo emergency order, Satoshi Kamayachi, a doctor and member of the government’s expert advisory board, told CNN affiliate TV Asahi that “it was not enough time to contain the increase in infection, we need to further reduce human contact. “.

Japanese authorities are afraid to introduce a total blockade or other more severe emergency measures, for fear of damaging the economy. The country is also facing, once again, difficult decisions surrounding the Olympic Games, which were supposed to take place last summer, but have been postponed due to the spread of the pandemic around the world.

The Tokyo Games are scheduled to take place this summer from July 23 to August 8, according to the International Olympic Committee, with opening and closing ceremonies reduced in line with a “general simplification of the Games”.

Last week, the Tokyo metropolitan government said it would postpone the upcoming Tokyo Olympics torch displays “to reduce the flow of people and prevent the spread of Covid-19”. The torch has been on display in several counties since November and was due to restart this week.

In a New Year’s speech to the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee staff this week, President Yoshiro Mori said preparations would proceed “as planned”, adding that “I think everything would be affected if I scratch my head or show some indecision. “

“We will leave this dark tunnel in cooperation with you. I would like everyone to do their best to the end to bring joy and hope to many people, in the belief that spring comes after winter and morning always comes after a long night”, said Mori.

Japan is battling coronavirus fatigue, having been one of the first to be hit by the pandemic, and mixed messages in recent months.
A recent survey by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK found that 77% of respondents thought the Games should be postponed again or canceled altogether, with only 16% in favor of hosting them this year.

Speaking to CNN, former senior International Olympic Committee official Dick Pound said it was unlikely that the Games would be postponed again and therefore any further delay would likely mean its cancellation.

“The one-year postponement was a proposal from Japan, the Organizing Committee said ‘look, we can hold this together for another year, but no more’,” he said. “Postponing for another year, for example, will have a huge cost, which Japan may not be willing to incur. It will further complicate a busy sports agenda … you will have the World Cup and football happening, and in some point is that there is a lot of congestion in the general system. “

He rejected the suggestion that the Tokyo Olympics could be moved to 2024, and all planned host cities advanced in turn, as being people “without any conception of what this (plan) means in real life”.

CNN’s James Griffiths contributed reports from Hong Kong.

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