After USA's 'National Emergency', PMO Japan to declare 'State of Emergency' by April 7; announces stimulus package of $988 billion
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Tokyo, April 6: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is likely to declare the 'State of Emergency' in Tokyo and seven other prefectures as early as Tuesday and announced a record economic stimulus package of 108 trillion yen ($988 billion) as the coronavirus infections have surged in the country.
Japan PM is slated to designate authorities in the seven prefectures subject to emergency measures. The declaration also will cover Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo, and Fukuoka prefectures, Abe said in a briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday afternoon.
PM Abe spoke to the press and explained the government’s plan to introduce major economic package to tackle #COVID19. PM also stated that he intends to announce emergency declaration tomorrow and speak to the people on the measures and ask for their cooperation. pic.twitter.com/W1eQYAs06B
— PM's Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) April 6, 2020
“(The declaration) is estimated to last one month,” Abe said. “This state of emergency declaration is to ensure the medical care system stays intact and to ask for even more cooperation from the people to avoid contact with each other to reduce infection as much as possible.” he further added.
"Public transportation will continue to operate", Abe said. The declaration will not lead to the kind of lockdown seen in some countries like Germany and the USA. He has also announced a stimulus package of 108 trillion yen ($988 billion) to support households and businesses struggling from the impact of the pandemic.
The declaration will reportedly only cover parts of the country where infections are increasing rapidly and falls far short of the strict lockdown measures seen elsewhere in the world. An emergency declaration enables local officials to take measures such as ordering the cancellation of events, restricting the use of facilities such as schools and movie theaters and appropriating land or buildings for temporary medical facilities. The announcement comes after pressure from the public and the medical community.
More than 3,500 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Japan and 85 have died. The numbers keep rising with a particular alarm over the spread in Tokyo, which has more than 1,000 cases, including 83 new ones on Monday.