State Of Emergency May End Early In 5 Prefectures
Japan's government is considering lifting a state of emergency imposed over the coronavirus earlier than planned in five prefectures in central and western parts of the country.
The emergency declaration covers Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures. It is scheduled to expire on March 7.
The prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Aichi and Fukuoka are asking the central government to move forward the end of the declaration.
In response, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide discussed the matter with related ministers on Wednesday. He told reporters he will made a decision on Friday after listening to opinions of an advisory committee that includes infectious disease experts.
Some officials within the government are positive about an early lifting of the declaration in Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto in western Japan, as well as Aichi and Gifu in the central region. But they say that as for Fukuoka, availability of hospital beds and other factors should be considered.
The government plans to call on people in Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa to continue anti-infection steps, such as refraining from nonessential outings, in order to end the declaration as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro, who is in charge of the country's inoculation program, said the government will start vaccinations for elderly people on a limited scale on April 12.
He also said the government wants to begin delivering enough doses of vaccines for all municipalities from the week starting on April 26.
He noted that the number of vaccine doses will be limited at first, and that the government hopes municipalities will carefully check arrangements for delivery systems and management of vaccination venues.
Kono said the government wants to start vaccinations for senior citizens smoothly and gradually expand them.