TOKYO: The Japanese government does not think it necessary to declare a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus again, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday.

“We’re doing careful monitoring with a strong sense of tension, but we’re not in a situation that immediately warrants the issuance of a fresh state of emergency declaration,” Abe told reporters.

“We ask the public to take full precautions” against COVID-19, he said after a meeting on the infection situation with economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, health minister Katsunobu Kato and others.

Separately, Nishimura told a press conference that the government will disclose the names of bars and other establishments that do not follow guidelines for infection prevention if any coronavirus outbreak occurs there.

Nishimura had a teleconference with the governors of eight prefectures including Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi.

The participants agreed that COVID-19 prevention measures should be strengthened at eating and drinking establishments serving alcoholic drinks in general, including those providing hospitality services.

At the press conference, Nishimura said he wants the industry to strictly follow the guidelines.

In the event of outbreaks at establishments failing to observe the guidelines, their names would be disclosed under Article 16 of the infectious disease prevention law, he said.

He also said the public should refrain from holding drinking parties involving many people for the time being.

“We should keep our guard high,” Nishimura said, warning of a further spread of infections. He said additional efforts will be made to secure more hospital beds for coronavirus patients and hotel rooms for carriers with mild or no symptoms.
JIJI Press