Japan seeks to lift state of emergency

This means that business establishments in areas where the state of emergency will be lifted will soon resume operations gradually and mass gatherings and requests for people to stay at home will slowly be eased. (File photo: Cory Schadt/Unsplash)

Japan is preparing to lift the state of emergency over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Tokyo and four other regions on Monday, easing some restrictions and allowing businesses to resume gradually as the spread of the virus in the country is brought under control.

During the meeting of a government advisory panel, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura endorsed the removal of the emergency in Tokyo area including Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama, as well as in Hokkaido in northern Japan.

“There is no longer a need for a state of emergency in any part of the country,” Nishimura said. “We would like to seek advice on lifting the emergency.”

As of May 14, restrictions on social distancing were eased for most of the country as infections fell except for Tokyo and four other prefectures that remained under watch.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to make the final decision and announcement during a press conference on the same day. If approved, Japan will no longer have regions under a state of emergency for the first time since the restrictions were placed last April 7.

Nishimura said that the government is expected to establish a transitional period and monitor the situation of infections every three weeks.

This means that business establishments in areas where the state of emergency will be lifted will soon resume operations gradually and mass gatherings and requests for people to stay at home will slowly be eased.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Kokei revealed a three-stage plan that will allow the gradual resume of activities in the capital. The governor said that Tokyo will swiftly move to “stage one” of loosening the restrictions, which means libraries, museums, theaters, and cinemas will re-open and restaurants will be allowed to stay open until evening.

The remaining stages also aim to relax restrictions in other establishments and allow schools to resume again.

“While the emergency state will be lifted, it is important to expand economic activity in stages as we establish a new way of living,” Yasutoshi Nishimura said

As Japan starts to ease the curb on its economic activity, the government plans for a new stimulus worth 100 trillion yen (US$930 billion) to recover from its deepest slump in post-war history. The aide will be used to help companies come through with their financial losses, Nikkei newspaper said.

The new package includes 60 trillion yen composed of subsidies to help companies pay rent and wages, expanded loan programs that are state-affiliated and private financial institutions. Nikkei also reported that another 27 trillion yen would be set aside for other aid including capital injections for ailing firms.

The Japanese government is set to approve the budget during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

As of writing, Japan has reported a number of 17,200 cases of individuals infected by the coronavirus disease and 853 deaths with Tokyo metropolitan area tallying the highest number of reported cases across the nation.

The public is still advised by the Prime Minister to wear face masks and maintain social distancing and for businesses to allow their employees to work from home as the country slowly transitions.