Coronavirus: Japan declares a state of emergency
After three days of record coronavirus counts and a rapidly rising death toll, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures on Thursday — the first such declaration since April.
The state of emergency will last one month and relies mostly on voluntary compliance. The government is asking restaurants to close earlier, employers to encourage staff to work from home, and residents to mostly stay home — but schools, cinemas, gyms and shops will stay open.Health experts warn it may not be enough to turn the tide.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had, for days, resisted appeals for action from governors in affected prefectures, out of concern that the new restrictions would hurt the economy, but he eventually bowed to the pressure. Japan’s vaccinations are not set to start until the end of February.
Context: Deaths from the virus in Japan have doubled in less than two months, passing 3,700, and Tokyo’s governor has warned that the medical system is under stress. Polls have shown dissatisfaction with Mr. Suga’s handling of the pandemic.
The New York Times