The Japanese capital and three neighboring prefectures have asked the national government to declare a state of emergency to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
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“In the name of valuing life, we made this appeal together,” said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike after a three-hour meeting on Saturday with the minister in charge of measures against the coronavirus, together with the governors of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.
Japan has seen a recent increase in reported cases of COVID-19, especially in urban areas. Tokyo had a daily record of 1,337 cases on New Year’s Eve.
From left, Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono, Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita, Minister of Economy of Japan Yasutoshi Nishimura, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa met with journalists in Tokyo after Tokyo and three neighboring Japanese prefectures asked the national government to declare a “state of emergency” on Saturday, January 2, 2021. (Muneyuki Tomari / Kyodo News via AP)
Concerns are growing about hosting the Olympics, scheduled for July, with 11,000 Olympic athletes scheduled to enter Japan, as well as tens of thousands of officials and the media.
“Corona doesn’t know a calendar,” said Koike, referring to his concerns about infections caused by New Year celebrations.
“Hospitals are getting crowded, affecting medical care for everyone.”
The minister said that both sides agree that the situation is critical, but medical experts will be consulted before action is taken.
Japan has never had a blockade, trying instead to reconcile the need to keep the economy running with health risks. The warnings issued do not entail penalties.
The government has also been sending conflicting messages with a campaign to encourage discounted travel, although it has been discontinued.
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Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been criticized for what some see as his mismanagement of the pandemic. Japan has had more than 3,500 deaths so far related to the virus.