[ad_1]
Criticisms are rife with ‘response to North Korea’ … Expected to air from 0 o’clock on the 9th
Suspension of ‘commercial trafficking’ with crown mutation 19 countries confirmed
Discuss the amendment to the law, including penalties for failure to comply with local government suspension requests.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a New Year’s press conference held at the prime minister’s residence in Tokyo on the 4th that he is considering issuing an emergency declaration in the metropolitan area in relation to countermeasures against the infection with the new coronavirus. Tokyo = AFP Yonhap News
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced at a New Years press conference on the 4th that he is considering issuing an emergency declaration in the metropolitan area, including Tokyo, regarding the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Consequently, the Kyodo News Agency reported that an emergency situation will be broadcast for a month from 0 o’clock on the 9th. However, on the 2nd, the head of four metropolitan areas (1st and 3rd prefectures), including the governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko, and the governor of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama, requested the government to issue an emergency. It became a form of acceptance as if it were rejected. With the prudent attitude of Prime Minister Suga, who has been hesitant to respond preemptively for fear of adverse economic effects, the environment for public opinion is worsening.
“Many infected people in the metropolitan area … need a strong message”
While the spread of the new coronavirus infection has not stopped, the grounds of the Kanda Myojin Shrine in central Tokyo are packed with worshipers. Tokyo = EPA Yonhap News
At the New Years conference held at the Prime Minister’s residence, Prime Minister Suga formalized his intention to review the emergency declaration based on the Special Measures Act. “The number of infected people in the metropolitan area is very high,” he explained, and “we decided that it was necessary to produce a stronger message.” On the 31st of last month, the number of new confirmed cases in Tokyo was 1,337, for the first time exceeding the level of 1,000, and throughout the country 3,000 people were registered in six consecutive days from the previous day (3rd).
When the emergency declaration is issued, it is the second time since April-May of last year. Last year, restrictions were imposed on general social and economic activities throughout the country, but this time, based on the previous case, only limited measures are expected to be taken in the metropolitan area. Prime Minister Suga added: “After learning for a year, it became clear where the problem was. In that sense, the limited and intensive implementation is effective.” Most of the infections of unknown origin were judged to be caused by food (eating and drinking), suggesting an intention to request a reduction in business hours or restaurant closures. On the 2nd, the government asked the heads of local governments in the metropolitan area to reduce the restaurant’s opening hours from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Regarding vaccination, Prime Minister Suga emphasized that “we are proceeding so that vaccination can start at the end of February as much as possible.” In the first half of the year, the Japanese government secured the number of vaccines (approximately 28,000 doses) for the entire country (about 127 million people). Furthermore, to prevent the spread of mutations originating abroad, such as the UK, it said it would stop “commercial trafficking” to countries with confirmed mutations. Japan has recognized the easing of entry regulations, which exempts short-term business travelers from quarantine for two weeks, as well as 11 countries, including Korea and China. The Foreign Ministry said: “If the other country officially announces that it has confirmed the infection of the local market, it will stop.” The possibility of being excluded from the goals of deregulation cannot be ruled out even in Korea, where COVID-19 mutations have been confirmed. Regarding the holding of the Tokyo Olympics, he said: “We will realize that humanity has won the Crown 19.”
Request for closure in case of emergency, limit without obligation
Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Yuriko Koike (right) and heads of metropolitan areas, including the Governor of Tokyo, announced on the 2nd in Tokyo that they asked the government to issue an emergency declaration at a press conference after meeting with the Minister of Economic Regeneration, Yastoshi Nishimura (left) in Tokyo. Tokyo = AFP Yonhap News
When an emergency declaration is issued, the head of the local municipality may issue an order to close the school or request a reduction or suspension of business hours for public facilities such as restaurants, department stores, cinemas, and performance venues. Last year, several large corporations started working from home, and department stores and concert halls closed at once. However, due to the lack of coercive measures, such as sanctions, under current law, it is limited to relying on voluntary participation.
Consequently, the government plans to address a bill that includes sanctions for businessmen if they do not comply with the requests for suspension of activities during the ordinary National Assembly convened from the 18th. In this sense, although there are opinions that mandatory measures are unavoidable to control infection, there are many concerns that the constitution may limit the rights of citizens. Prime Minister Suga announced on the day that “we will present a bill to revise the Special Measures Law to the National Assembly to take more effective measures combining benefits (government compensation) and sanctions.”
Although Prime Minister Suga has made a sudden transition to “announcement review”, criticism of “North Korea’s response” continues, and criticism of defensiveness at the conference is also emerging. It only took 30 minutes to read the interview and finish answering questions. When a journalist asked on the subject of diplomatic affairs while broaching the Hong Kong issue and asked, “ Isn’t the Japanese government unable to correctly say what to say to China? ”
Tokyo = Kim Hoe-kyung Correspondent [email protected]
Subscribe to the Hankook Ilbo News Naver channel
Balance to see the world, the Hankook Ilbo Copyright © Hankookilbo
[ad_2]
