Japan Revises Law on 'Hospitalization Refusal COVID-19 Patients'... Prison Sentences Changed to Fines

Nikai Toshihiro, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Japan has decided to impose fines instead of criminal penalties on COVID-19 patients who refuse hospitalization.

On the 28th, according to major foreign media in Japan, Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Tetsuro Fukuyama, Secretary-General of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, agreed to revise the government's submitted amendment to the "Special Measures Act for New Influenza, etc." (hereinafter referred to as the Special Measures Act) accordingly.

The amendment, approved at the Japanese Cabinet meeting on the 22nd, included a provision to impose "imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 1 million yen (approximately 10.72 million KRW)" on COVID-19 patients who refuse hospitalization.

Japanese ruling and opposition parties agreed to delete the criminal penalty provision and replace it with an administrative fine of "up to 500,000 yen (5.36 million KRW)." The fine for refusing epidemiological investigations by health centers or making false reports was also reduced from "up to 500,000 yen" to "up to 300,000 yen."

The ruling and opposition parties plan to pass the amendment to the Special Measures Act with these contents in the National Diet by the 3rd of next month.