Japan to Decide Tomorrow on Emergency Extension... Tokyo, Hosting Olympics, Likely to Extend Emergency State

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japanese government is reportedly considering extending the state of emergency declaration issued to four metropolitan local governments, including Tokyo Metropolis.

According to Kyodo News on the 6th, the Japanese government plans to hold a COVID-19 task force meeting on the 7th to decide the extension period and target areas of the state of emergency, which is currently set to expire on the 11th.

The areas under the state of emergency include Tokyo Metropolis, Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, and Hyogo Prefecture. The measures mainly call for refraining from going out, closure of large commercial facilities and restaurants serving alcohol, and a 70% reduction in commuting workers.

While options to extend the state of emergency by two weeks or one month are being discussed, attention is focused on whether Tokyo Metropolis, the host city of the Tokyo Olympics opening on July 23, will be included.

Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, and Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai region, where the healthcare system is under severe pressure, are likely to have their state of emergency extended.

These local governments plan to hold COVID-19 task force meetings this afternoon and request the government to extend the state of emergency deadline.

Tokyo Metropolis also plans to request an extension of the state of emergency after hearing expert opinions at a monitoring meeting held today.

The Japanese government will make the final decision on infection prevention measures such as closure requests based on the requests from local government heads.

This is the third state of emergency since the spread of COVID-19, with the current declaration period from June 25 to July 11, which has been criticized as too short compared to the first and second states of emergency.

There is also an interpretation that this measure is in consideration of the visit of Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to Japan on the 17th.

With Bach’s visit approaching, it is highly likely that the state of emergency in Tokyo Metropolis, the host city of the Tokyo Olympics, will also be extended.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike mentioned the need to extend the state of emergency to the press the day before, saying, "The situation remains quite difficult."

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