Japan Coordinates Declaration of 'COVID-19 Emergency' in Seoul Metropolitan Area for One Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Japanese government is reportedly coordinating plans to declare a state of emergency for the Tokyo metropolitan area for one month starting from the 9th due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Kyodo News reported this on the 4th, citing multiple government officials.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated at a New Year's press conference that morning that he is considering declaring a state of emergency based on the Special Measures Law for the four metropolitan local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including Tokyo, where COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing.

The areas under consideration for the state of emergency declaration include Tokyo Metropolis and three prefectures in the Kanto region: Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama.

In regions where the state of emergency is declared, the heads of the respective metropolitan governments can request residents to refrain from going out, shorten business hours of restaurants, close schools, and restrict events.

NHK reported that the four metropolitan local governments in the Tokyo metropolitan area, where the state of emergency is being considered, are in final coordination to request, from the 8th until the end of this month, refraining from non-essential outings after 8 p.m. and suspension of alcohol-serving restaurant operations under the "State of Emergency Action Guidelines."

The governors of the one metropolis and three prefectures in the metropolitan area plan to hold a video conference that night to finalize COVID-19 countermeasures.

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