The Japanese government will write legislation so that it can declare state of emergency if necessary to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday.

At a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting on the fiscal 2020 draft budget, Abe asked for cooperation from the ruling and opposition camps over the legislation to fight COVID-19.

He also said that the emergency blanket school closures from Monday that the government has requested are not based on opinions of experts but his political decision.

Abe said his government will speedily prepare legislation so that it can take steps equivalent to those granted under the law on special measures against new strains of influenza.

The law has emergency provisions to allow the government to limit private rights such as by ordering a halt to gatherings and conducting compulsory goods purchases.

Asked why he thought the blanket closures are needed, Abe said, "The next one to two weeks are crucial in terms of whether the virus will spread rapidly or be put under control."

"I made the decision (to close schools) under my own responsibility, with little time left to make a judgement," he continued.

Education minister Koichi Hagiuda said he became aware of the nationwide school closure policy just on Thursday, when the prime minister made the request for it.

On Monday, Abe told the Diet panel that the government will draw up a second batch of emergency measures as early as March 10 using reserve funds for the current fiscal year ending March 31.

The additional measures will feature financial aid for working parents who will see their incomes fall as they have to take leave from work to care for their children due to the school closures.

The government is also considering financial support for municipalities that run after-school care centers and other facilities for children and assistance to small and midsizebusinesses affected by the coronavirus crisis.

Monday's session was suspended because the government side failed to clearly answer a question on the stockpile of face masks and other items.

JIJI Press