State of emergency, recurrence order Prime Minister announces policy at press conference

It was revealed on the 4th that the government has begun to consider reissuing the state of emergency as the infection of the new coronavirus spreads. The decision will be made within the week based on the recommendations of the government's new corona countermeasures subcommittee. A high-ranking government official revealed. The target area will be examined mainly in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama, which have requested a recurrence order. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will attend a press conference at the official residence on the 4th and explain the government's response policy.

　Regarding the state of emergency, the governors of Tokyo and three prefectures requested Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of economic revitalization, to issue an announcement on the 2nd. In response to this, Mr. Nishimura said, "We shared the recognition that the state of emergency is in a difficult situation. We will accept (request for a recurrence order) and consider it."

　On the other hand, the government has requested 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures to refrain from going out after 8 pm. It is also requesting that restaurants be requested to shorten their business hours by 8:00 pm and that alcoholic beverages will be served by 7:00 pm.

　In addition, the government plans to submit an amendment to the Act on Special Measures Concerning New Influenza, etc. to the ordinary Diet session convened this month in order to make the request for leave of absence when the state of emergency is announced effective with penalties. Aim for early establishment with the cooperation of the opposition.

　Prior to the year-end and New Year holidays, the prime minister called on the people to "thoroughly take measures against infections and spend a quiet year-end and New Year holidays ahead of meetings." However, the infection situation has not shown signs of convergence, and the number of newly infected persons confirmed in Tokyo on the 31st of last month exceeded 1,300.

　The Prime Minister will meet with Mr. Nishimura, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Norihisa Tamura, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kazuyoshi Akaba, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato at the official residence on the 3rd. In addition to receiving reports on the infection status, discussions were held on the handling of the tourism support project "Go To Travel," which has been suspended nationwide until the 11th of this month.

　The state of emergency is issued by the government's response headquarters, headed by the prime minister, by designating the area and period, based on the new Influ Special Measures Law. The target prefectural governor can refrain from going out and request restrictions on the use of facilities such as schools. However, under the current law, there is no compulsory force to request refraining from going out.

　The requirement for issuance is that "a nationwide and rapid spread may have a tremendous impact on people's lives and the national economy." The government issued an announcement on April 7, last year, to seven prefectures including Tokyo. It was spread nationwide on the 16th of the same month, and was gradually lifted from May 14th to 25th.

Source: https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/210104/plt2101040003-n1.html