As of 21 days, all emergencies for responding to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) issued by Japan in four metropolitan areas including Tokyo will be lifted. Although the number of infected people has recently increased again, it is based on the judgment that the extension of the issue of emergency is not effective. However, experts continue to warn that “if it is lifted as it is, the 4th great proliferation will come.”
As planned for the emergency situation in the metropolitan area, it will be canceled on the 21st.
The number of infected people increases, but it is judged that “extension is not effective”
“Re-proliferation has already begun. It will be 1,000 people in Tokyo in April.”
![On the 17th in Tokyo, Japan, a citizen wearing a mask is taking a picture of cherry blossoms in bloom earlier than usual. [AP=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202103/18/69f424f7-f750-49a0-98a0-bf64aebdabb5.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 17th in Tokyo, Japan, a citizen wearing a mask is taking a picture of cherry blossoms in bloom earlier than usual. [AP=연합뉴스]
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on the evening of the 17th that he plans to lift the declaration of emergency issued in the metropolitan area on the 21st. It will be officially announced this evening after the government’s Corona 19 advisory meeting held on the afternoon of the 18th. As a result, on January 8 this year, the announcement of the emergency situation, which was expanded to 11 cities nationwide starting with the metropolitan area, was extended twice, centering on the metropolitan area, was resolved in two and a half months.
In early January, the number of new corona19 confirmed cases in Japan, which came out close to 8,000 a day, steadily declined during the emergency and dropped to 1,000. However, in March, the decline has markedly slowed down, showing a slight increase. According to NHK statistics, on the 17th, the number of newly confirmed infections across Japan was 1535, the highest in one month. In Tokyo, 409 people were confirmed that day, and more than 400 confirmed cases were confirmed one day in 27 days.
Even if the emergency is lifted, the Japanese government will continue to recommend “expanding telecommuting and refraining from meetings with more than 4 people” to prevent re-proliferation. The restaurant business hours, which were limited to 8 p.m., will also be slightly reduced to 9 p.m., which was increased by 1 hour. However, the cherry blossom season begins in earnest from the end of March, and the entrance ceremony is scheduled in early April, so going out and meetings are expected to increase significantly.
![On the 17th, citizens wearing masks are passing through downtown Tokyo, Japan, where the spring energy is full. [AP=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202103/18/b7d0f123-95b6-4b60-866b-b8dc6821448f.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 17th, citizens wearing masks are passing through downtown Tokyo, Japan, where the spring energy is full. [AP=연합뉴스]
On March 25, the Tokyo Olympic Torch Relay will also begin in Fukushima. As a result, some say that the Japanese government is in a hurry to lift the emergency situation in order to renew the atmosphere ahead of full-scale preparations for the Olympics.
In an interview with TV Asahi on the 17th, Tetsuya Matsumoto, a professor at the National University of Health and Welfare, said, “The outbreak of more than 400 confirmed cases in Tokyo means that re-proliferation has already begun, and this is likely to lead to the 4th pandemic.” “If the emergency declaration is lifted now, there will be 1,000 confirmed cases a day in Tokyo in April,” he warned.
Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Young-hee [email protected]
