Minister Calls For More Efforts To Reduce Contact
The Japanese minister in charge of coronavirus measures has called for further efforts to reduce social contact by up to 80 percent to contain the spread of the virus.
Economic Revitalization Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi said on an NHK program on Sunday that there have been fewer people going out in areas covered by the state of emergency.
He said the number of train passengers and location information from mobile phones suggest that human traffic has been reduced by 60 to 70 percent. He urged businesses to do more to help achieve the 80 percent target.
Nishimura also reiterated calls for people to refrain from outings, especially visits to entertainment districts.
The chairman of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, Nakanishi Hiroaki appeared on in the same program.
Nakanishi said serious discussions need to be held on the government's economic package, closely watching how long the current situation continues.
He warned that the country needs to prepare for many challenges in the medium to long term. He said even if Japan contains the virus, other countries may still be having problems.
Japan Medical Association President Yokokura Yoshitake warned that the risk of an explosive spread is becoming very high.
Yokokura said that more people should be tested.
He added that medical workers are faced with the risk of infection when swabbing people for PCR tests, as patients tend to cough during the process.
He said there have been growing calls from medical workers on the front line for more personal protective equipment.
