Tokyo and Osaka Call for Extension of Virus Emergency

(Bloomberg) -- Tokyo wants to extend a virus emergency currently in place and will soon seek approval for the move from Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in a bid to stem a surge in infections ahead of the capital hosting the Olympics from July.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Thursday the extension is needed, and people’s movement must continue to be restrained. The central government is considering extending the state of emergency for Tokyo and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo by about two weeks or a month, Kyodo News reported, citing several unidentified administration officials.

The major metro area of Osaka, where infection numbers have reached record highs in recent days, is also set to seek an extension, with Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura saying he has no other option.

Suga, who makes the final decision on the extension, is almost certain to grant official requests if they are made, local media reports said. The premier declared a state of emergency from April 25 to May 11 in the four regions, under which bars and restaurants were banned from selling alcohol and fans were excluded from major sporting events.

Japan’s third state of emergency came amid a surge in cases that was causing strain on the health care system in areas that make up about a quarter of the country’s population. While economists have expressed fears it could drag on consumption, virus cases have not fallen substantially since it came into effect.

“The number of infections hasn’t turned downward, and neither has the number of serious cases,” Koike told reporters, speaking on the current emergency state. “Even taking into account the time lag, we can’t predict what will happen.”

Glacial Pace of Vaccinations Threatens Japan’s Olympic Moment

Japan has contained virus infections relatively well by comparison with the U.S. and much of Europe, but its vaccine rollout has been slow, meaning the government has few tools at its disposal to control the pandemic. Although businesses can be fined for disobeying emergency regulations, there are no penalties for individuals.

Public broadcaster NHK said mobile phone data indicated that the number of people going out during the Golden Week series of public holidays that has just ended was more than twice that seen during Japan’s first state of emergency last year.

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