Japan’s expanded state of emergency went into effect Thursday as the government seeks to stop a surge of new coronavirus infections, though with the restrictions not binding many people appeared to be ignoring the requests to avoid nonessential travel.
People were still commuting on crowded trains and buses in Osaka, Fukuoka and other areas of the seven new prefectures placed under the state of emergency. In Tokyo, where the emergency decree has already been in place for a week, the governor expressed concern about people not following the official guidance.
Click to Gallery
Japan’s expanded state of emergency went into effect Thursday as the government seeks to stop a surge of new coronavirus infections, though with the restrictions not binding many people appeared to be ignoring the requests to avoid nonessential travel.
She said the state of emergency is not just about avoiding eating out at night or for restaurants to close early, but to reduce contacts among people.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government has said the measures are needed to prevent an increase in infections in urban areas from spilling over to smaller towns where medical systems are vulnerable. Suga has called the situation “severe” and asked the people to cooperate, though in Japan the requests are nonbinding and those who ignore them are not punished.
Yet despite the surge, Japan has reported far fewer infections than many countries of its size.
The Cabinet minister in charge of the coronavirus measures, Yasutoshi Nishimura, told a special parliamentary panel Thursday that further expansion of the emergency is possible if infections spread.
"I thank for your cooperation, but the number of people up and about in town has not been significantly reduced,” Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters.
People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus shop at a vegetable shop in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 1500 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
She said the state of emergency is not just about avoiding eating out at night or for restaurants to close early, but to reduce contacts among people.
“The virus has no calendar, clock or even a map. Day or night, or prefectural borders doesn’t matter,” she said. “Please avoid going out for nonessential purposes.”
Under the state of emergency that now covers areas home to more than half of Japan's population, bars and restaurants have been asked to close by 8 p.m., employers have been asked to have 70% of their staff work from home and residents in the affected areas have been asked to avoid going out for nonessential purposes. Reduced capacity has also been requested for sports and other events.
People wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus stroll along a shopping street in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 1500 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government has said the measures are needed to prevent an increase in infections in urban areas from spilling over to smaller towns where medical systems are vulnerable. Suga has called the situation “severe” and asked the people to cooperate, though in Japan the requests are nonbinding and those who ignore them are not punished.
The Tokyo governor urged the country’s main business organization to encourage employers to do more to promote remote work and reduce commuting as requested by the government.
Japan has seen coronavirus infections and deaths roughly double over the past month to about 302,000 and 4,200 respectively. Tokyo alone reported 1,502 new cases on Thursday.
Commuters wear face masks at a station in Fukuoka, southern Japan Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency to seven more prefectures, affecting more than half the population amid a surge in infections across the country. (Naoyuki ShinKyodo News via AP)
Yet despite the surge, Japan has reported far fewer infections than many countries of its size.
Experts say people are not responsive to the emergency measures due to growing complacency.
Suga has said he will seek the revision of a law to allow his government to issue binding measures with penalties for violators.
Rubber gloves hang to dry as people wearing protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk past in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 1500 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
The Cabinet minister in charge of the coronavirus measures, Yasutoshi Nishimura, told a special parliamentary panel Thursday that further expansion of the emergency is possible if infections spread.
The emergency decree now covers Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Tochigi prefectures.
Dr. Shigeru Omi, a former World Health Organization regional director who heads a government COVID-19 taskforce, said tougher measures such as business shutdown requests may be needed if the measures are ineffective by early February. He has previously said a month-long emergency may not be enough to slow the surge.
A man wearing a protective mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walks near a banner reading " Stay Home" hoisted along a shopping street in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. The Japanese capital confirmed more than 1500 new coronavirus cases on Thursday. (AP PhotoEugene Hoshiko)
Suga has been criticized for not taking stronger action earlier in the outbreak, when measures were largely limited to asking the public to take basic safety measures such as wearing masks and washing hands.
Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi