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Japan lifts virus emergency for most regions
TOKYO, May 14, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s prime minister on Thursday lifted
a state of emergency imposed due to the coronavirus for the majority of the
country but kept it in place for top cities Tokyo and Osaka.
After fears the virus could explode in Japan, new infections have come
down sharply, enabling the government to end the measure in 39 out of 47
prefectures before it was due to expire on May 31.
But with new cases still emerging daily in Tokyo, Osaka and the northern
island of Hokkaido, Shinzo Abe told reporters in a televised news conference
that the state of emergency would be kept in place for those regions.
“If possible, before May 31, we would like to lift the state of emergency
for the other regions as well,” he said.
“It’s going to be a long road ahead,” Abe warned, asking residents to
continue to refrain from going out and visiting other regions.
He also urged Japan’s 126 million people to remain alert to prevent a
possible fresh outbreak.
“If each of us fails to exercise full vigilance, the future in two weeks
time is unpredictable. A second declaration of a state of emergency is
possible,” he warned.
– ‘Cluster-focused approach’ –
Japan’s state of emergency falls far short of the toughest measures seen
in parts of Europe and the United States.
It allows local governors to urge people to stay at home and call on
businesses to remain shut.
But officials cannot compel citizens to comply and there are no
punishments for those who fail to do so.
Schools in much of the country closed down even before the emergency was
declared on April 7 in Tokyo and six other regions, before being expanded
nationwide.
Japan’s virus outbreak remains small compared with those seen in parts of
Europe and the United States, with a little over 16,000 confirmed infections
recorded and 687 deaths.
New cases have dropped recently, with 55 fresh infections confirmed
Wednesday nationwide, and just 10 in Tokyo.
Japan recorded its first coronavirus infection in mid-January and came
under early pressure with a mass outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship
docked off the city of Yokohama.
Despite so far avoiding the devastating tolls seen in places such as Italy
and New York, there have been persistent fears that Japan’s healthcare system
could be quickly overwhelmed by a sudden spike in infections.
Japan has also come under fire for a relatively low level of testing.
However, Abe stressed that Japan’s strategy of keeping track of clusters
had worked in the regions where the state of emergency was being lifted.
“As for the 39 prefectures, we were able to contain (the spread of
infections) to the level at which it can be prevented with a thorough
cluster-focused approach,” Abe told reporters.
BSS/AFP/MRU/1712hrs