TOKYO: The Japanese government is cautious about extending the state of emergency over the coronavirus crisis considerably as public frustration is expected to increase over business suspensions and restrictions on going out.

The emergency declaration is currently set to remain in place until May 6, the last day of the country's Golden Week holiday period from late April.

Many officials view an extension as inevitable since the rising number of COVID-19 infections does not warrant the full lifting of the state of emergency.

With Tokyo seeing over 100 new coronavirus cases every day recently, it is unlikely Japan can put the outbreak under control anytime soon.

"I don't think (the emergency period) will end on May 6 if things remain as they are," a government source said. Some experts call for nine months of restrictions on going out.

Meanwhile, senior officials are reluctant to extend the period significantly as they are aiming to achieve a V-shaped economic recovery before the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, which have been put off to summer 2021.

The emergency period will be extended by around one week, an official forecast, adding that the public would not be able to endure any longer than that.

Another official predicted an extension until the end of May.

An expert panel will advise the government whether to extend the period by examining the extent to which a target of reducing interpersonal contact by 80 pct has been achieved, trends of daily infection cases and the situations at medical institutions.

If the panel proposes an extension, it is also expected to present options to take, including whether to maintain, strengthen or partially ease the stay-at-home policy. Its basic view will be announced before May 6.

It is necessary to make an explanation persuasive enough for the public to say, "Yes, we can do that," a member said, emphasizing the significance of clearly showing an "exit" from the current situation.

But a government official said it would be difficult to say, by giving specific figures, that the state of emergency will be lifted if such and such things happen.

Another focus is when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will announce his decision about the emergency period.

Some speculate that he may make such an announcement Thursday, when parliament is expected to pass a fiscal 2020 supplementary budget.

Meanwhile, a senior government official said that Thursday is too early because the government needs to monitor the movement of people during the Golden Week period.

Under law, the government is required in principle to give prior notice to parliament when lifting or extending the state of emergency.

The government "should make a decision on May 1 at the latest, given that shops and schools need time to prepare," said a senior member of the major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

JIJI Press