Japan government discussing quasi-state of emergency for Tokyo, surrounding areas: Report
TOKYO: Japan's government has started discussions to impose
a quasi-state of emergency on the capital Tokyo and its surrounding areas
within the week, broadcaster FNN said on Monday (Jan 17), as COVID-19 cases
rise.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday the capital
would request such measures if the usage of beds set aside for COVID-19
patients climbed to 20 per cent. The rate stood at 19.3 per cent as of Sunday.
The highly infectious Omicron variant is driving a
resurgence in coronavirus cases in Japan. New cases nationwide have exceeded
25,000 in the past two days, near record levels.
The government on Jan 9 declared quasi-emergency measures in
three regions that host US military facilities, after it appeared that Omicron
outbreaks at the bases spilled into the surrounding communities. The measures
include shortened operating hours for restaurants and bars.
It was the first imposition of such curbs since September,
when Japan lifted emergency controls that had prevailed across the country for
most of last year.
Koike said last week a full declaration of emergency in
Tokyo would be called for if hospital bed usage rate rises to 50 per cent.
Tokyo has allocated about 6,900 beds for coronavirus care,
out of about 128,000 in total for the capital region.
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