Japan Establishes New Coronavirus Government Task Force: "Full Effort to Prevent Spread"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Japanese government established an inter-ministerial task force on the 30th to respond to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), NHK reported.

According to the report, the Japanese government decided at the Cabinet meeting that morning to set up a novel coronavirus countermeasures headquarters with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the head and all ministers participating.

At the first task force meeting held at the National Diet at noon, Prime Minister Abe instructed the government to unite and make every effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Regarding the evacuation of Japanese nationals staying in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus, Abe expressed his determination to continue making every effort to ensure the safe return of all remaining evacuees wishing to return.

Prime Minister Abe also emphasized, "There is a need to take the price measures and other policies implemented so far to the next level." He added, "We will closely monitor the situation and devise flexible and agile countermeasures," mentioning the possible use of DMAT, the Disaster Medical Assistance Team dispatched in large-scale disasters or accidents.

In this regard, Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, explained at a regular briefing that day, "Considering the situation of infection spread, we established the task force to make thorough efforts to prevent further spread," and "We intend to do everything possible within related ministries, such as using police facilities as accommodations for returnees."

Regarding the evacuation of about 300 people wishing to return from Wuhan, he said, "We are currently coordinating with Chinese authorities on the specific timing and dispatch plans." The Japanese government dispatched two charter flights to Wuhan and transported 416 Japanese nationals back to Japan. The second charter flight, which arrived at Haneda Airport that morning, carried 210 Japanese staying in Wuhan, of whom 14 showed symptoms such as fever and were transferred to medical institutions.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government plans to charge passengers on the charter flights 80,000 yen (about 860,000 won), equivalent to a one-way economy class fare on a regular flight, which has sparked controversy. The day before, Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, said, "The government should bear the cost due to the sudden disaster." In response, Secretary Suga acknowledged, "We are aware of various opinions," and explained that unless caused by civil war or similar circumstances, passengers generally bear the cost directly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.