Abe: Govt. Will Do Its Best To Contain Outbreak
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the government will not hesitate to take necessary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus.
Speaking at a Diet committee on Thursday, Abe said the government places top priority on protecting people's health and lives.
He also said the government will closely monitor the impact on Japan's tourism industry and the wider economy, as Chinese group tours, which account for a large part of foreigners visiting Japan, are being canceled.
Abe referred to the case of two persons among those who arrived in Tokyo from Wuhan on a government-charted flight on Wednesday, and have refused to be tested for the new virus.
The prime minister said government officials tried hard to persuade them to take the test. But he said the test is not legally binding, and officials failed to get their consent. Abe added that it's difficult for the government to take further steps, partly due to issues of human rights.
