Lifting of Japan's COVID-19 State of Emergency After 73 Days

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The COVID-19 state of emergency declared in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including Tokyo, was lifted at midnight on the 22nd. The state of emergency, which lasted for 73 days since January 8 this year, has been fully lifted.

The areas where the state of emergency was lifted include the four metropolitan prefectures of Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, and Chiba.

Accordingly, the operating hours for restaurants in the metropolitan area will be extended from the previous 8 PM to 9 PM. Restrictions on the number of attendees at large-scale events such as sports games will also be eased.

Until now, the limit was set at 50% of the venue capacity or 5,000 people, whichever was lower, but going forward, up to 10,000 people will be allowed as long as it is within 50% of the venue capacity.

Some speculate that the decision to lift the state of emergency despite Japan’s daily COVID-19 cases remaining in the 1,000s was influenced by the upcoming Tokyo Olympic torch relay starting on the 25th.

It was judged that maintaining the state of emergency in the metropolitan area would make it difficult to dispel skeptical views about holding the Olympics even if the torch relay began.

The Japanese government’s decision on the 20th, after a five-party meeting with the organizing committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), not to allow overseas spectators at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics is also interpreted as an effort to alleviate public anxiety and international skepticism about hosting the Olympics.

The Japanese government and the organizing committee are expected to accelerate preparations for the Olympics with the torch relay starting on the 25th at J-Village in Fukushima Prefecture.

Earlier, when daily COVID-19 cases in Japan reached a maximum of around 7,000, the government declared a state of emergency in the metropolitan area from January 8, urging people to refrain from going out and shortening restaurant operating hours.

This was the second state of emergency since the one declared in April-May last year.

The Japanese government later expanded the state of emergency to a total of 11 prefectures, including Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka.

Since last month, as the spread of COVID-19 infections clearly slowed, the government gradually lifted the state of emergency, with the metropolitan area being the last to have it fully lifted on this day.

However, there are concerns that the number of new COVID-19 cases in Japan has been somewhat increasing recently, raising fears of a resurgence after the state of emergency was lifted.

According to NHK’s tally, 1,119 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed nationwide the previous day.

Japan’s daily COVID-19 cases have remained in the 1,000s for six consecutive days, ranging from 1,133 to 1,533 since recording 695 cases on the 15th.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases stands at 457,577, with deaths increasing by 19 the previous day to a total of 8,849.

Meanwhile, Asahi Shimbun reported that in a nationwide telephone survey conducted on the 20th-21st targeting voters aged 18 and older (1,564 respondents), 51% said the government’s decision to lift the COVID-19 state of emergency was "too soon." 32% said it was "appropriate," and 11% said it was "too late."

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