February 3rd. According to the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), the Japanese government decided on the 2nd to lift the “Declaration of Emergency” in Tochigi Prefecture on schedule, and at the same time, the declaration of emergency in 10 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka. Extend to March 7.
The Japanese government also decided to expedite the resolution of the shortage of medical resources in the future, and strive to lift the state of emergency in the prefectures mentioned above before the deadline.
Regarding the declaration of emergencies issued for 11 prefectures, the Japanese government decided on February 2 that the declaration against Tochigi Prefecture will be lifted as scheduled on February 7.
However, it will target 10 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka. The emergency declaration was extended to March 7.
Since then, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference: “I hope that all citizens can work harder to prevent and control the pandemic.
The decline in the number of infections must be made irreversible.”
Regarding the 10 prefectures that have decided to extend the emergency declaration, the Japanese government believes that although the number of new confirmed cases of new crowns in these areas is on a downward trend, the beds are still very tight.
Therefore, the government has decided to continue to require restaurants to shorten their business hours to 8 p.m. local time, and urge people to reduce unnecessary non-emergency outings.
Through thorough implementation of the pandemic prevention and control measures implemented so far, the decline in the number of infections will be irreversible.
At the same time, the problem of shortage of medical resources will be expedited, and the emergency declaration of the above-mentioned prefectures will be lifted before the deadline.
The Japanese government will position vaccination as a key link in the prevention and control of the pandemic.
In response, Yoshihide Suga said that he would advance the vaccination schedule and strive to start vaccination in mid-February.
The Japanese government hopes to improve the actual effect of pandemic prevention and control measures and to contain the situation of further spread of the pandemic as soon as possible.
