The Japanese government decided on Sunday to supply face masks to residents in areas in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, including the city of Kitami, where infections with the new coronavirus are spreading at an alarming pace.

The decision was made at a meeting of the government's headquarters in response to the viral outbreak.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed participating cabinet ministers to compile a second batch of emergency measures to cope with the situation by March 10.

The prefectural government of Hokkaido declared a state of emergency over the virus on Friday, asking residents to refrain from going out. As of Sunday, 72 people were confirmed to be infected with the COVID-19 virus in Hokkaido, including eight in Kitami.

"Hokkaido in particular sees a growing need for face masks to prevent infection, so the state will distribute masks it buys in large quantities to residents in municipalities where infections are spreading," Abe said.

The distribution of masks will be carried out under a law allowing the government to take emergency measures to stabilize people's lives. The government will buy masks from makers and distribute them to households through post offices.   The government expects that each household will be given some 20 masks.

The law, established after the 1973 first oil crisis, stipulates that the government can order businesses to sell life-related products to it when their supplies are disrupted in certain regions, threatening to affect the lives of residents and the local economies.

Steps in the planned second emergency package will be financed with 270 billion yen in reserve funds set under the government's fiscal 2019 budget.

Among the measures will be the launch of a financial aid program for parents who would see their incomes fall after taking leave to care for their children following the closures of schools requested by the government.

The government has asked all elementary, junior high and high schools, and special-needs schools in the nation to close until the start of the regular spring break to help reduce the risk of infection among children.

The package will also likely include financial support for businesses that cancelled events based on requests from the government.

JIJI Press