The governors of Tokyo and Osaka opened the door to declare another virus emergency in the largest metropolitan areas of Japan as infections increase, adding to the challenges facing the Olympics less than 100 days after the Olympics. capital.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters on Sunday in the press that she had ordered officials to consider the state of emergency as an option to contain infection numbers that rose over the weekend to a maximum in more than two months, when the last declaration was in effect in the capital . His comments came when a new poll showed widespread opposition to holding the delayed 2020 Games in the city.
In Osaka, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told a news conference on Monday that he should seek a state of emergency, as the number of infections reached all-time highs this month. Public statements put pressure on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government to make a decision, which local media said could come as early as this week.
Suga, who would make the call after consulting experts, earlier this month stepped up virus restrictions in Tokyo, Osaka and other regions, imposing measures similar to those in an emergency. The Prime Minister now has little left in his toolbox to control the latest rise, vaccinations are developing at a slow pace and will not be launched until May.
Currently established measures call for bars and restaurants to close at 8pm, and those who do not meet the requirements are fined. Incentives are provided to restaurants that follow virus guidelines, such as keeping enough space between tables.
Even under current measures, commuter trains are packed, while crowds flock to shops and restaurants. Civil liberties enshrined in the Japanese Constitution prevent the imposition of a closure supported by police action.
Tokyo may be looking to intensify these restrictions by calling for restaurants to be closed if a state of emergency is declared, TBS television. reported, without saying where he got the information from. If the measures are tightened beyond current restrictions, it could increase the risk of a double-dip recession and deal a severe blow to thousands of restaurants struggling to survive.
“If we are asked to close not only restaurants but also other stores, the economic impact could be large and we may see another contraction in the second quarter,” economist Harumi Taguchi told IHS Markit.
The Japanese Prime Minister is facing a backlash from an audience concerned about the Summer Olympics (one of the biggest world events of the pandemic era) that could be a popular event. The Games have already been delayed a year, and 73% of respondents over the weekend said they were against the event being held as planned from July, according to a survey conducted by Japanese broadcaster ANN.
Approximately the same percentage of respondents wanted the government to declare a state of emergency and take stricter preventive measures. Successful daily cases were recorded in Tokyo 759 Saturday, the highest since late January.
Suga has tried to push the economy forward by keeping cases under control to appease voters, many of whom see it as slow in imposing measures to curb infections and putting the economy in the face of public health problems. The prime minister must strike a careful balance before a vote by the party leadership in September that will determine whether he stays or joins the long list of short-lived leaders.
Suga visited Joe Biden in the White House on Friday, becoming the first foreign leader to hold a face-to-face meeting with the president of the United States since taking office. Biden reiterated his support for Tokyo hosting the Olympics at the summit.
Suga, who has promoted the Olympics as an opportunity to show the world has defeated the virus, has faced a setback from his own Liberal Democratic Party. Last week, LDP soloist Toshihiro Nikai indicated that the cancellation of the Tokyo Games was an option as the country struggled with the increase in cases.
Despite the increase in figures in Japan, the country has by far the lowest number of Covid-19 cases recorded and the death of any country in the Group of Seven.
– With the assistance of Lily Nonomiya, Isabel Reynolds and Yoshiaki Nohara
(Updates with a report on the possible closure of the restaurant)