Japan Extends COVID-19 State of Emergency Until Next Month 20th

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Japan's state of emergency declared in response to COVID-19 will be extended until the 20th of next month.

According to Kyodo News on the 27th, the Japanese government informed the ruling party in the afternoon of the same day of its plan to extend the state of emergency currently in effect in nine prefectures, including Tokyo, until the 20th of next month.

Currently, the Japanese government has declared a state of emergency to strengthen COVID-19 prevention measures in 10 prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Okinawa. Among these, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures had a 17-day state of emergency declared on the 25th of last month. Subsequently, the government extended the state of emergency in these areas until the end of this month and expanded the coverage to include Hokkaido, Aichi, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka prefectures, increasing the total to nine regions. Then, on the 23rd, Okinawa Prefecture was also placed under a state of emergency until the 20th of next month.

This measure sets the target date for lifting the state of emergency as the 20th of next month, aligning with the timing of the declaration in Okinawa Prefecture, while re-extending the emergency measures in the existing nine regions excluding Okinawa.

This is interpreted as a strategy to implement the highest level of prevention measures until one month before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, which is 57 days away, and then simultaneously lift the state of emergency to create a favorable atmosphere before the Olympics. However, as the Japanese public's fatigue with prevention measures grows and distrust in the government increases, and with 83% of the public opposing the Tokyo Olympics, it is questionable whether this strategy by the Japanese government will be effective.

The Japanese government plans to formally decide on this extension of the state of emergency at the task force meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the 28th, after expert discussions and parliamentary reporting procedures.

According to NHK broadcasting, as of 8 p.m. on the same day, Japan reported 4,140 new COVID-19 cases, including 684 in Tokyo, maintaining the 4,000 range for the second consecutive day. The total cumulative cases increased to 735,496, and cumulative deaths rose by 111 to reach 12,751.