Tokyo will urge the Japanese government to declare a state of emergency as authorities tighten restrictions to prevent an increase in coronavirus infections ahead of an Olympics just three months away.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters virus cases were spreading in the capital and prompt action was needed as the medical system came under strain in some areas.
“When I look at the situation, I think we need to act as soon as possible,” she said. The city is expected to make the final decision on Thursday after a virus panel meeting.
Covid-19 affairs in the city have risen in recent days to levels not seen since the end of January, when the capital was in its second state of emergency.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government this month tightened restrictions in Tokyo, Osaka and other regions to slow distribution and introduce measures calling on pubs and restaurants to close at 8pm, and those who do not comply not, fines are imposed.
Tokyo may try to lift restrictions even more by asking restaurants to close if a state of emergency is declared, TV network TBS reported, without saying where he obtained the information. It would be the toughest measure to date in an emergency in Japan, but such a move could increase the risk of a double recession and hit thousands of eateries struggling to survive.
Civil liberties enshrined in the Japanese Constitution prevent the imposition of a lock that is enforced by the police, as seen in other countries.
Tokyo’s one – day virus cases rose by 70% to 759 in just two weeks on Saturday, a sign that the capital follows Osaka, the second largest metropolitan area where daily cases reached a record high this month.
Suga reiterated the government’s position that the Olympics will continue according to schedule despite any state of emergency.
“There will be no impact on the Olympics. “The government will do its best to host the Games safely,” he told reporters.
There is no law banning the Olympics from taking place in emergencies, but it is likely to affect the number of local spectators allowed. Overseas fans have already been banned for the event.
The increase in business has further weakened the Japanese public’s support for the Olympic Games, which would be one of the biggest world events of the pandemic era, with more than 70% polling broadcaster ANN over the weekend saying that they would not be held against the Games in July.
Japan’s vaccination will far from be complete before the Olympics, which will attract more than 60,000 athletes, coaches, national team staff, media and other essential workers from more than 200 countries. Immunizations of humans elderly more than 65, who started this month, may not be completed until next year due to insufficient cooperation of medical staff in some regions, the Nikkei newspaper quoted the ruling legislature Hakubun Shimomura on Monday.
Despite the rising numbers in Japan, the country has by far the recorded the fewest Covid-19 cases from any group of seven countries. Its death toll was also among the lowest in the group, about 9650, well below the approximately 128,000 in the UK, with a population about half as large as that of Japan.
– With help by Lily Nonomiya
(Arrangements with the comments of Tokyo Gov Koike and Suga)