Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, Denies Tokyo Lockdown Rumors: "No Situation to Declare a State of Emergency"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dismissed the possibility of locking down Tokyo. Although there have been calls within Japan for extraordinary measures such as locking down Tokyo to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), he stated that such measures are not being considered.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attending the House of Councillors wearing a mask [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Kyodo News, on the 1st, Prime Minister Abe said at the House of Councillors Budget Committee, "Can we do a lockdown like France? That is not possible," adding, "There is a misunderstanding regarding the lockdown rumors circulating online."

Prime Minister Abe also distanced himself from declaring a state of emergency. He said, "At this point in time, it is not a situation to issue such a declaration."

However, he drew attention by leaving open the possibility of announcing a state of emergency without consulting the parliament. In response to a question about establishing a procedure to report to the parliament before declaring a state of emergency, he said, "Please understand that when declaring a (state of emergency), it is a very serious situation and speed is also necessary." This implied that due to the urgency of the matter, the procedure of reporting to the parliament might be bypassed.

Japan’s economic measures are scheduled to be announced next week.

Prime Minister Abe stated, "Japan is facing a national crisis unprecedented since the postwar period (World War II)," and added, "We will take bold measures by mobilizing finance, monetary policy, and taxation without being bound by precedent."

Prime Minister Abe also revealed that they are considering using facilities prepared for police officer accommodations during the Olympic Games for medical purposes. This suggests that they are reviewing contingency plans in case the number of infected patients surges beyond the capacity of existing medical facilities.