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Following the spread of the new corona virus, the measures to be taken in response to the reissue order of the emergency declaration decided by the government on the 7th are more limited in the target area and industry than when the declaration was made in the spring. pass. The purpose is to mitigate the damage to the economy, but the number of infected people has largely exceeded the first wave, so can it be repressed? The delay in the response was pointed out, thus recalling the previous situation in which the target area had to be expanded to the national level. (Mikihiko Ueno, Shunsuke Inoue)
◆ The measures are “limited and intensive”
Prime Minister Yoshii Suga emphasized his determination at a press conference after deciding on the repeat order on the 7th, saying: “By declaring, we will stop the spread of the infection and turn it into a downward trend.”
The mainstay of the measure is a request for restaurants to shorten business hours. We are not calling for the simultaneous closure of elementary, middle and high schools before the declaration like last spring, and the cancellation or postponement of music and sporting events.
Prime Minister Kan will hold a press conference on the 7th after the announcement of an emergency declaration for 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures.
The content is “limited and intensive” (Prime Minister), and focuses on the three prefectures of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa. Mr. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economic Revitalization, explained at a government meeting on the 7th: “We will not stop the widespread economic activities, but we will implement effective measures thoroughly.” The assistant prime minister explains that the goal is “to minimize the impact on the economy.”
◆ Questions from inside and outside the government
However, there are questions inside and outside the government about the effectiveness and duration of the period. An executive from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare pointed out that “the tunnel is long in half a year. First, it will be an effort in a month” with respect to the period until February 7. Toshio Nakagawa, president of the Japan Medical Association (Nichii), said: “Depending on the situation, we may have to consider a nationwide announcement” on whether the target area will remain in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures.
In fact, Governor Hideaki Omura of Aichi Prefecture, where the spread of the infection continues, explained: “If the trend does not change, we should consider requesting a statement from the country.” Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, mentioned the request for a statement on the 7th.
◆ The First Wave of Ninomai
The prime minister in dealing with the first wave in the Abe administration, who served as chief cabinet secretary, the initial border measures were delayed to visit the conduct of China’s Xi Jinping Jintao. During the spread of the infection, he spent time considering postponing the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and it was criticized that waiting for the decision led to the delay in issuing the emergency declaration.
At the time of the statement’s release, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe settled on seven prefectures as a target area, saying he couldn’t blindly shut it down, but the infection didn’t subside and spread across the country in less than 10 days.
This time, Prime Minister Kan remained concerned about the impact on the economy of strengthening countermeasures even after the spread of the infection. In December last year, opposition parties and others called for a statement, but the decision to suspend the “Go To Travel” tourism support project was made after the number of infected people across the country surpassed 3,000. . December 14 of last year. At a press conference on the 25th, he expressed negative thoughts about issuing an emergency declaration, but the number of newly infected people across the country continued to rise.
The prime minister reiterated at the meeting that day that he had “learned over the past year” about the effectiveness of the measures. He also emphasized that “it is important to focus and do it thoroughly,” but as the circumstances are mapped out, the second dance of the first wave is also realistic.
