Following a surge in Coronavirus cases, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a one-month state of emergency on Tuesday, April 7.
In a televised news conference, Abe revealed that the recent sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Tokyo and other urban areas had prompted a reassessment of their strategy to contain the spread of the virus.
He emphasized the need for a transformation in people’s behavior to alleviate pressure on the health service, prevent an explosion in cases, and protect individuals and their loved ones. Abe also urged people to reduce their contact with others by 70-80% as a means to flatten the Coronavirus curve in the country. Additionally, he called for non-essential workers to work from home and for companies to stagger shifts for employees who cannot work remotely.
Abe invoked the community spirit that emerged after the tsunami disaster on Japan’s north-east coast nine years ago, expressing confidence that if people work together, they will overcome this crisis.
The state of emergency, in effect until May 6, covers Tokyo, three surrounding prefectures, as well as Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka. While there are no legal mandates for people to stay at home or for businesses to close, the declaration aims to address the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
As of Monday, April 6, the metropolitan region of Tokyo had 1,116 confirmed infections, with Japan reporting 3,906 confirmed cases and 91 deaths nationwide. Abe highlighted the concern that with the current rate of infection, Tokyo’s hospitals may be overwhelmed by a surge in cases.
It was projected that if the current rate of infection persists, the number of COVID-19 cases could skyrocket to 10,000 in two weeks and 80,000 in a month. Despite these figures being relatively low compared to other countries, officials are worried about the capacity of Tokyo’s hospitals to handle a significant increase in infections.