"COVID-19 Explosive Spread: Japan Declares 'State of Emergency' in Tokyo Metropolitan Area for One Month"

Second Announcement Since April 7 Declaration
Request to Refrain from Going Out After 7 PM
Shortened Business Hours for Restaurants, etc.

No School Closures for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
University Entrance Exam Schedule on 16-17 Maintained as Planned

As Japan faces an emergency due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), on the 7th, citizens wearing masks are walking through the central hall of a train station in the capital, Tokyo. The day before, Japan reported 6,001 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to over 260,000. This is the first time daily new cases have exceeded 6,000. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to declare a state of emergency soon to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to local media including the public broadcaster NHK.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads explosively, the Japanese government has re-declared a state of emergency in the metropolitan area. The declaration period is from the 8th to the 7th of next month, lasting one month.

On the afternoon of the 7th, the Japanese government held a COVID-19 task force meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and decided to declare a state of emergency in the metropolitan area, including Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures.

In the Tokyo area, nearly 2,500 new confirmed cases were reported that day. Following 1,591 cases the previous day, it set a new record for two consecutive days. Nationwide in Japan, new confirmed cases exceeded 6,000 the previous day, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases surpassed 260,000, reaching a level difficult to control.

This is the second time a COVID-19-related state of emergency has been declared in Japan based on the 'Special Measures Act for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response' since the first confirmed case last January. During former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, on April 7 of this year, a state of emergency related to COVID-19 was first declared in seven metropolitan areas including Tokyo and Osaka, where many confirmed cases were reported. It was later expanded nationwide and all were lifted on May 25.

Residents in the areas where the state of emergency is declared must refrain from going out upon the request and instructions of the metropolitan governors. Additionally, various businesses such as restaurants will have to shorten their operating hours.

As the Japanese government is set to declare a state of emergency in the metropolitan area to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), on the 7th, Tokyo citizens wearing masks are crossing a crosswalk in the Shibuya area. On this day, for the first time in Tokyo, more than 2,000 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Along with this state of emergency declaration, the Japanese government newly organized the 'Basic Policy for COVID-19 Response' requesting residents to refrain from going out after 8 p.m., and urging companies to promote telework and staggered shifts with the goal of reducing commuting workers by 70%. For restaurants and similar businesses, operating hours are shortened to 8 p.m. (alcohol service until 7 p.m.). Businesses complying with this will receive compensation (cooperation money) of up to 60,000 yen per day.

However, unlike the first state of emergency declaration which requested business closures across a wide range of industries, this time the focus is on preventing infection spread through restaurants, and school closures for elementary, middle, and high schools will not be requested.

The series of university entrance exams, including the common test scheduled for the 16th and 17th, will proceed as originally planned.

Regarding large-scale events such as sports games, cancellation or postponement will not be requested. Instead, attendance will be managed by reducing the number of attendees to 50% of capacity or fewer than 5,000 people, on the condition that thorough infection prevention measures are implemented.

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