Abe Seeks Public Support For Emergency Measures
Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is expected to declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures on Tuesday in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The move comes as Tokyo and other major Japanese cities experience a rapid spread of the virus and an increase in the number of cases with untraceable infection routes.
The situation has raised fears that the country's healthcare system could be overwhelmed.
The declaration, which is based on a recently-enacted law, will cover the following prefectures: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka. It is expected to be in place for about a month.
The government is set to hear opinions from an advisory panel of experts before issuing the declaration.
Abe is also expected to answer questions about the state of emergency declaration from members of both the Lower and Upper Houses of the Diet.
On Monday, Abe said that the declaration will aim to raise public support and keep the healthcare system fully functional. He also said that lockdowns will not be imposed, as has been the case in some foreign cities.
The government is also set to revise its basic guidelines for dealing with the outbreak. This comes as the prime minister declares a state of emergency.
Abe will hold a news conference at 7 p.m. Japan time to explain to the nation how the emergency declaration works.
