Coronavirus Panel Asked To Change Wording
NHK has learned that Japanese authorities asked a government panel of experts tasked with coming up with measures against the coronavirus to change the wording of its proposals in order to avoid sparking panic in society.
Panel members presented their views and proposals on ten occasions, as part of their voluntary efforts to promote measures to fight the outbreak.
Sources say that in some cases, the experts revised the wording of their findings or deleted phrases at the request of the government.
Sources say when the panel was preparing its second statement, which was released on March 2, the experts were planning to present the view that "there is the possibility of people with mild or no symptoms widely spreading the virus."
But the wording was changed to say "people with mild symptoms are unknowingly playing a significant role in spreading the virus."
The change was made after a state of emergency was declared in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on February 28.
The government reportedly said that the original wording could trigger panic and there is nothing they can do about people with no symptoms.
The panel has since made it a rule to discuss its views and proposals with the government before announcing them at news conferences.
Some experts say that cooperation with the government is necessary to provide effective proposals.
Others say that experts should present their own views without the government stepping in.
