The governors of Tokyo and Osaka have opened the door to declaring another virus emergency in Japan’s largest metropolitan areas as infections grow, adding to the challenges of the Olympics less than 100 days away in the capital.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters late Sunday that she had it instructed officials to consider the state of emergency as an option to contain the number of infections that increased over the weekend to the highest in more than two months, when the last statement was in force in the capital. Her comments came as a new poll showed widespread opposition to organizing the 2020 Late Games in the city.
In Osaka, Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told a news conference on Monday that he was ready to seek a state of emergency as the number of infections reached record highs this month. Public statements put pressure on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government to make a decision, which local media said could come as early as this week.
Suga, who will make the call after consulting experts, earlier this month stepped up virus restrictions in Tokyo, Osaka and other regions, imposing measures similar to those in emergencies. The prime minister has little left in his toolbox to control the latest growth, vaccinations are proceeding at a slow pace and will not begin until May.
The measures in force now call on bars and restaurants to close until 20:00, and those that do not comply face fines. Incentives are offered to restaurants that follow antivirus guidelines, such as maintaining enough space between meals.
Even under current measures, shuttle trains are packed, while crowds gather at shops and restaurants. The civil liberties enshrined in the Japanese Constitution prevent the imposition of a blockade supported by police action.
Tokyo may seek to intensify these restrictions by asking restaurants to close if a state of emergency is declared, the TBS TV network reported, without saying where he got the information from. If the measures are tightened beyond the current restrictions, it could increase the risk of a double-dip recession and hit thousands of restaurants struggling to survive.
“If not only restaurants but also other stores are required to close, the economic impact could be large and we may see another contraction in the second quarter,” economist Harumi Taguchi told IHS Markit.
The Japanese prime minister is facing a negative reaction from an audience worried about the Summer Olympics – one of the biggest global events of the pandemic era – could be a spreading event. The games have already been delayed by a year, and 73% of those polled over the weekend said they opposed the planned event in July, according to a survey conducted by the Japanese broadcaster ANN.
About the same percentage of respondents wanted the government to declare a state of emergency and take stricter preventive measures. Cases recorded daily in Tokyo 759 on Saturday, the highest since the end of January.
Suga has tried to advance the economy while controlling cases to appease voters, many of whom see him as slow in imposing measures to stop infections and putting the economy ahead of public health issues. The prime minister must strike a careful balance before a vote by the party leadership in September, which will determine whether he will stay – or join the long list of short-lived leaders.
Suga visited Joe Biden at the White House on Friday, becoming the first foreign leader to have a personal meeting with the US president since taking office. Biden reiterated his support for Tokyo hosting the Olympics at the summit.
Suga, who backed the Olympics as an opportunity to prove that the world had defeated the virus, faced push from within his own Liberal Democratic Party. Last week, LDP boss Toshihiro Nikai said canceling the Tokyo Games was an option as the country struggled to increase the number of cases.
Despite the growing number in Japan, the country has by far the fewest cases of Covid-19 and deaths in any country in the Group of Seven.
– With the assistance of Lily Nonomiya, Isabel Reynolds and Yoshiaki Nohara
(Updates on the possible closure of the restaurant)