According to the Ministry of Health of Japan, a new wave of Covid-19 continued to break out, only on December 31, the country recorded more than 4,500 cases, prompting Tokyo and its three neighboring provinces to request the government to declare state of emergency. However, Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has not made a decision yet, due to concerns about potential damage to the economy.
Mr. Suga noted that shortening the business hours of restaurants has helped to prevent the increase in some places. Therefore, it will strengthen measures of social stretch, such as restaurants and karaoke bars to close before 20am and pubs to close before 7pm, 2 hours earlier than before.
While, Fumie Sakamoto, director of infection control at the International Hospital in Tokyo, said the number of Covid-19 cases will increase in the coming days and the declaration of a state of emergency should be made sooner.
If a state of emergency is declared, it will be the second time that Tokyo and surrounding areas have to apply this order due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The emergency was first issued for more than a month last April, when non-essential schools and businesses were ordered to close.