COVID-19: Japan declares state of emergency in seven regions

TOKYO (April 7): Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured) today declared a one-month state of emergency in seven areas in the country owing to the spread of the COVID-19 disease, reported Sputnik news agency today.

Abe said the state of emergency will be in place in Tokyo, Osaka and five prefectures: Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

"As I decided that a situation feared to gravely affect people's lives and the economy has occurred... I am declaring a state of emergency," AFP reported Abe saying.

"Although a state of emergency is declared, it won't mean a city lockdown as seen overseas," he explained.

"We will prevent the spread of infection while maintaining economic and social services such as public transport as much as possible," he added.

AFP also reported that many supermarkets and other shops will also stay open, and there will be no enforcement mechanisms nor penalties to be imposed on those who fail to comply with the emergency situation.

As for the “economic impacts of the emergency measure” and concern of a recession in Japan caused by the global pandemic, Abe yesterday unveiled plans for a stimulus package worth around US$1 trillion (RM4.34 trillion), or 20% of Japan’s gross domestic product.

Reuters reported that the sum “exceeds the 11 per cent of US output for the stimulus package laid out by President Donald Trump and 5 per cent of output for Germany’s package”.

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