The hustle and bustle of Tokyo as the capital of Japan. (Image via Live Japan)

Suga to announce a state of emergency on Tokyo, vicinity; vaccination to begin in February

On Monday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, revealed that the Japanese Government is considering announcing a state of emergency in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures. The consideration came as the country is facing a surge of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, especially during the New Year holidays.

The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, together with her counterparts from Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama Prefectures, asked the central government to declare a state of emergency, as the number of the new COVID-19 cases in Tokyo topped 1,300 in a single day, for the first time. Koike stated on Sunday that since Tokyo and its vicinity are connected, effective preventive measure is essential.

During New Year's press conference, Suga also promised to begin COVID-19 vaccination in late February. The date determined by Suga is way earlier than its previous target as the frontline healthcare workers were supposed to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in mid-March. Regarding the state of emergency in Tokyo, Suga assured that it will not be as tight as it was previously.

In late November, the Tokyo Government asked restos, bars, and karaokes serving booze to cut its business hours, closing by 10 p.m, in exchange for compensation. However, it proved ineffective in cutting the number of COVID-19 cases. The policy was supposed to end on 17 December 2020, yet it has been extended to 11 January 2021. Other than Tokyo, its three neighboring prefectures are following its stead. 

Source: https://bit.ly/3n7dWHb