Japan is set to impose a state of emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday in order to stop the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday, with the government preparing a 108 trillion yen (S$1.42 trillion) stimulus package to soften the economic blow.
“Given the state of crisis on the medical front, the government was advised to prepare to declare the state of emergency,” Abe told briefing media.
The state of emergency will cover Tokyo and the neighbouring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama, the western hub of Osaka and neighbouring Hyogo, as well as the south-western region of Fukuoka.
The measure, to go into effect for about a month, will enable local authorities to urge people to stay at home except to shop for food, seek medical care, go to work if necessary, and take daily exercise.
As said by Abe, the emergency would last about a month, would hand regional governors the power to ask residents to stay inside, seek the closure of businesses that attract large crowds and commandeer land and buildings for medical purposes. Though, it would not be as restrictive as lockdowns in some other countries.
In most cases, there will be no penalties for residents those ignoring requests to stay at home, and enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and respect for authority.
“In Japan, even if we declare a state of emergency, we will not close cities as seen in foreign countries. Experts have told us that there is no need for such a step,” Abe added.
Abe said the government stimulus package, equivalent to about 20 per cent of the nation’s economic output, would include more than 6 trillion yen for cash payouts to households and small businesses and 26 trillion yen to allow deferred social security and tax payments.
Japan has avoided the large number of Covid-19 cases and deaths which compelled other countries to allow lockdown, but there is growing alarm over the rise in infections in capital city, among young people in particular.
Tokyo reported a record 148 new cases on Sunday, with a further 83 on Monday taking its total to over 1,000, according to media report.Over 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 lost their life from the virus in Japan.