Govt. To Revise Anti - Coronavirus Basic Guidelines
The Japanese government plans to update its anti-coronavirus basic guidelines to reflect recent revisions to special measures legislation designed to allow tougher enforcement of anti-infection rules.
The government will likely have new guidelines adopted at a taskforce meeting on Friday after soliciting opinions from an advisory panel and informing the Diet of planned changes.
The revised special measures legislation passed the Diet earlier this month and will take effect on Saturday. It will allow officials to fine people and businesses that break anti-virus rules.
The legislation will also enable prefectural governors to implement anti-infection measures before the central government declares a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, a health ministry expert panel met on Thursday to discuss the infection situations and medical care systems in Tokyo, Osaka, and eight other prefectures where a state of emergency is in effect.
Health minister Tamura Norihisa said the spread of the virus is gradually being brought under control, but there are not enough hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.
The government will likely maintain the state of emergency in the 10 prefectures for the time being due to the shortage of hospital beds.
It also appears intent on continuing to promote the thorough implementation of anti-virus steps to lower the number of infections.
The government is expected to take a cautious approach in deciding whether to lift the state of emergency in some regions before it ends on March 7.