TOKYO, Apr 7 (NNN-NHK) – Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, says, he is ready to declare a state of emergency from as early as Tuesday (today), as part of a growing response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The declaration would affect Tokyo, second city Osaka and five other densely populated prefectures.
The Abe government attempted to resist emergency legislation, but the biological and economic impact of the virus’s spread now justify such action. Abe announced the plans in a briefing, Monday evening, from his office.
“The declaration is estimated to last a period of one month. This state of emergency declaration is to ensure that medical care system stays intact and to ask for even more cooperation from the public to avoid contact with each other to reduce infection as much as possible,” Abe said.
Tokyo reported 83 new confirmed infections on Monday, following 117 on Saturday, and a grim daily record of 143 on Sunday. Excluding the infections on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, Japan has now recorded over 4,000 COVID-19 cases. With its ageing population, Japan is particularly susceptible to fatal impact. To date, 85 people have died.– NNN-NHK
