Four Pref. Poised To Take Stricter Covid Measures
With the coronavirus continuing to spread across Japan, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide seems ready to give four more prefectures the power to strengthen virus measures, without declaring a state of emergency. That would be on top of Tokyo, Osaka and four other COVID-19 hotspots.
Officials in the capital reported more than 700 new infections on Thursday -- continuing an upward trend. The metropolis is taking a "targeted approach" to address the problem, before a major national holiday begins in two weeks.
Ahead of his trip to the US, Suga discussed his idea with relevant ministers. If the decision becomes final, it will affect three of Tokyo's neighbors: Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa as well as Aichi prefecture.
The designation would come into effect next week and allow governors to do things like order restaurants and bars to close early and impose punishments.
Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa Yuji said, "Cases of new variants are increasing. From now, daily cases will likely surge."
Osaka is finishing week two of this approach, but case counts are still breaking records. The western prefecture logged more than 1,200 cases on Thursday, a quarter of the national figure.
Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi said, "The medical system is in crisis especially when it comes to seriously ill patients. The most urgent issue is how to get people to minimize their outings and human contact."
Yoshimura said if the situation does not improve, he will call on the government to take the next step: declaring a state of emergency.