Panel To Decide Whether To Keep Anti - Virus Steps


Panel to decide whether to keep anti-virus steps

A Japanese government panel of experts plans to decide in about ten days whether to continue the current measures on fighting the new coronavirus.

Members of a panel of experts met on Monday to review the measures currently in place nationwide based on analysis on their effectiveness. The measures call for cancellations of large-scale events and the temporary closures of schools.

The panel's vice chair, Shigeru Omi, told reporters after the meeting that the effectiveness of government measures to stem the spread of the virus would become more clear around March 19.

He said that the panel will make a comprehensive decision on how they have affected public behavior and outcomes from changes in their behavior.

One member of the panel, Kazuhiro Tateda, said he believes the coronavirus is not something that will disappear when the weather gets warmer, the way influenza does.

Tateda said measures to combat the virus may remain in place for more than a year.

He stressed the need to urge people to understand the characteristics of the coronavirus and think how they should change their everyday activities to prevent its further spread.