Diet Expected To Enact Revised Laws Aimed At Virus
Japan's Diet is expected to enact a plan to revise three laws to help Japan more effectively tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
The three are the special anti-coronavirus law, the infectious disease control law and the quarantine law.
The legislation to revise the laws calls for penalties for businesses and individuals refusing to comply with anti-virus measures.
The Lower House of the Diet endorsed the plan on Monday, after some changes to the original revisions.
The governing and opposition camps agreed not to impose any criminal punishment on infected individuals who refuse to be hospitalized, and also agreed to lower proposed fines for violations.
The Upper House began debate on Tuesday. Its Cabinet Committee is expected to vote in favor of the legislation before sending it to the chamber's full session later on Wednesday. The chamber is expected to approve it with majority support of members, including those in the governing coalition parties and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.
The Diet gave priority to debating the revisions over debating the budget plan for fiscal 2021. As a result, enactment of the revisions would come only days after debate began in the Diet.
The Lower House had passed an attached resolution specifying main measures to prevent the spread of the virus and also clarifying how to assist businesses. The Upper House Cabinet Committee is expected to pass a similar resolution.