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TOKYO: Japan is on “high alert” after recording a record number of daily coronavirus infections, the prime minister said on Thursday (Nov. 19), although no immediate restrictions are planned.
But the government will not immediately declare a health emergency and will continue to monitor infection rates and the ability of hospitals to cope, the government’s chief spokesman said.
“We will respond appropriately under the conditions,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato told a regular news conference on Thursday.
More than 2,000 cases were reported nationwide on Wednesday, with nearly 500 in the capital Tokyo alone.
While small compared to the numbers seen in some other countries, the numbers represent a sharp increase in the cases of Japan, where testing is typically on a smaller scale than in other parts of the world.
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“We are now in a situation of high alert,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
“I ask you Japanese to fully implement principles like wearing masks,” Suga added, urging people to wear them even while talking during restaurant meals.
National broadcaster NHK said Suga had asked expert advisers to meet Thursday and Friday to examine the rising number of infections before the government takes further action.
Suga said he would support local regions if they ask businesses to close early, and that restrictions including limiting groups at restaurants to four people should be considered.
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Tokyo is expected to raise its alert level to the highest of a four-level scale on Thursday, but the measure does not come with automatic restrictions.
Local media said the capital is not likely to request early business closings for now.
So far, Japan has taken a relatively relaxed approach to coronavirus restrictions, with even a nationwide state of emergency in the spring that does not imply an obligation for businesses to close or for people to stay home.
And while testing has increased, it has remained comparatively low, with around 5,000 to 6,000 people being tested per day in the Tokyo metropolitan area, home to nearly 14 million people.
Still, Japan has seen a relatively small outbreak so far, with about 121,000 recorded infections and more than 1,900 deaths since the virus was first detected in the country in January.
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