Kyoto Announces State Of Emergency Request
Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City in western Japan have decided to ask the central government to put the prefecture under a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic.
Kyoto Governor Nishiwaki Takatoshi and Kyoto City Mayor Kadokawa Daisaku made the announcement at a news conference on Friday morning.
Nishiwaki said Kyoto faces a serious situation like Tokyo and six other prefectures covered by the state of emergency that was declared on Tuesday.
The governor said the prefecture decided to ask the central government to include Kyoto in the emergency declaration so it can take strict measures to prevent the spread of infections.
Kyoto Prefecture has reported 165 coronavirus cases, the third largest number in the Kansai region after Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, which were included in the declaration. Nearly 30 percent of its confirmed cases, or 47, have unknown infection routes.
Nishiwaki called on residents to continue to refrain from non-essential outings. He also urged businesses to promote teleworking and take thorough anti-virus measures such as disinfection.
Mayor Kadokawa asked tourists not to visit Kyoto until the virus is contained.
