Gov't to ask experts whether to declare state of emergency again

This is Suga’s way to get the responsibility on everyone and not just him. Classic LDP move, oh and expect a state of some kinda emergency soon.

This time if they ask restaurants to close they have to give proper rent assistance as to just give the same support to all places is wrong as rents differ so much and some small places with low rent actually are better off to close early and high rent places cant afford to close early. They should also pressure or support the landlords to help more with some discounts on rents.

Time to think about traveling.

Roads are going be empty, and the ski slopes too.

A panel of infectious disease and other experts will likely discuss details such as which areas should be put under a state of emergency and for how long, after examining the current state of infections and medical systems, according to the officials.

I wonder if the "other experts" in the room are reps from Dentsu and Keidanren and if their interests will overrule the others. Going by past experience that looks to be the case.

How about the government ask the people who will suffer with no income whether to declare a SoE again ?

I did it for 3 months last year & have no desire to do it again.

And before people start downvoting me, try to imagine going 6 months with zero income.

No meetings required and no state of emergency either then. A JT expert hath spoken.

The reality that some 'experts' continue to be published by JT says JT considers their messages valid, even though their messages further contribute to spreading misinformation harming others. Who's more responsible: the poster or the publisher.

Liar experts ?

Why dither about it? If it's an emergency, it's an emergency! Is it or isn't it? More action is required and less passing the buck.

It looks circular to me. Governers ask the government. The government asks experts. And then, experts ask governers? Is this a Japanese way of responding to a crisis?

If declared again, the new SOE should urge "defiant" hospitals to cooperate with the state program by taking covid patients.

The large majority (about 70%) of Japanese hospitals are private, many of which have refused to give covid treatment in their floors for fear of a in-house spike. This is exactly how the overall healthcare system is being overwhelmed. But they would probably move by incentives under the SOE, much in the similar way that bar/restaurant businesses are closed in exchange of subsidy.

@tooheysnew

And before people start downvoting me, try to imagine going 6 months with zero income

Unfortunately people here dont consider about that.

People always screaming for lockdowns, SOE and so on without considering how many life existence will be destroyed.

Most of the people here are probably rich or get sponsored by parents...so it is easy to scream for a lockdown or SOE, because they have no problems to bring food on the table.

I agree that the Virus must become under control, but the best and only way is that the people show their best prevention behaviour.

And put our hopes in a coming soon effective vaccine.

An SOE is not necessary in my opinion.

And in a sense, what Burning Bush said is correct.

The numbers we got from the government are 101 with severe symptoms.

And that is 99.99% without severe symptoms.

He just said the fact!

It’s very reassuring knowing the experts are being brought back in.

Their ability to sit around in meetings bobbing their heads and tooth sucking is something we should all take comfort in.

@tooheysnew... I hear you man! So many people are suffering from lack of money due to shut downs! No assistance given by Government as well... it’s just painful! The least the Government can do is provide direct financial payouts to every citizen if they declare a state of emergency and that ¥100,000 isn’t going to cut it! It needs to be more than ¥300,000 at least if the shutdown is for a month! Lockdowns won’t solve the problem! All that needs to be done is widespread testing to identify the infected people and isolating them ( self isolation or quarantine centers ) so that they don’t spread the infection inadvertently to others. Didn’t the government promise 60,000 test a day?

The real threat isn't the virus. It's the governments response to it.

I now realize a lockdown is not the answer.

Translation; I will pay you a few million yen to sit in a room, tell me what to do, and give you the blame if it doesn't work out and we take the credit if it does work out.

Under Japanese law, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency, which will give local governors the authority to request that shops shorten their opening hours or temporarily close.

That’s cute.

The Governors should be asking the central government why the vaccine is not being rolled out yet, if it was then no need for a damaging SOE.

A bus is about to hit us. This calls for a hearing.

Are there no "experts" IN government here?

Like expert in making decisions?

Must they wait again for the "bomb" to fall before doing the right thing?

The last lockdown request meant people being laid off and being pushed into debt.

The reality is that although the virus is spreading in densely populated areas, the number of deaths is not high.

No utility or landlord has offered to reduce my bills yet my income dropped in the last SOE.

Was the virus contained whilst I stayed at home?

Just honestly ask yourself this one question: When has our government EVER cared about saving lives? Never.

Out of about 10 million people that's 1 per 100,000, or 99.999% without severe symptoms.

Shouldn't the maths be done in relation to active infections? Currently active cases is 10,301 which would make it just shy of 1%.

@tooheysnew

I am for a SOE now, considering people are very limited and do not do their best personal prevention, apart from wearing mask outside.

However I am totally with you on this.

The government must subsidise businesses according to the impact the measures have on each individual one, which did not happen the first time, apart from some larger companies.

It is governments’ responsibility to act and assist businesses while taking measures to reduce number of infections.

In the restaurants situation for example, in parts of Europe, subsidies are currently covering a high % of the rent + a high % of employees salaries.

No one can expect people to cooperate if no incentives are not being given. That would not only be unreasonable, but also go against human nature.

Lets wait and see what is coming this time.

Reducing current spread, while assisting businesses and ease the access to testing for the common citizen who needs it, are you up for the job J-Gov?

I like going out at night to the snack bars and singing a few songs and eating some food with friends. I hope if they close us down from doing that it won't be for a long time.

That would be the number of tested positives.

If you tested the entire population of Tokyo in 1 day that number (the denominator in the equation) would increase drastically, and would thus bring the ratio of severe cases way way below 1%.

Sorry for the big science words about difficult grade 4 level math, I realize that some people just want the fear porn.

That's true, but then we'd also know just how many people actually are infected or have antibodies as well.

@Burning Bush

 I realize that some people just want the fear porn.

I 100% agree!

And put our hopes in a coming soon effective vaccine.

A vaccine is not the solution at this moment. A vaccine is important but remember you can get vaccinated and still get the virus and infect others. Takes a few weeks for the injection to provide any kind of protection, and then you need a follow up injection. The vaccine is only hope at the moment and won't be available for months.

Why dither about it? If it's an emergency, it's an emergency! Is it or isn't it? More action is required and less passing the buck.

That is correct. Suga needs to strongly tell all people that is you feel feverish, have a cough, sore throat, body aches.............You should assume you have covid and get tested asap. People should also assume that everybody outside the house has covid. Now it is possible that you might have a cold or the flu or...............but not likely. This is not rocket science. Also assume that the covid figures are highly manipulated for the comfort of the public. WTF? The Government needs to stop being wimps and tell it like it is. People need to be more proactive and take care of themselves, wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home for awhile, forget about going out and drinking..................Not so difficult is it? There is a lack of awareness and selfishness in this country that has lit the fuse on this pandemic. This is a wildfire that needs to be put out with with every available resource imaginable. Seems the Government is just using a garden hose.

Thanks for the as always good post @noriahoyanen. Very informative.

If declared again, the new SOE should urge "defiant" hospitals to cooperate with the state program by taking covid patients.

Deep down I am hoping the government sees these hospitals as unreliable, rank them as inadequate for public service and remove them from the medical insurance schema.

Obviously this system doesn't work , you can't have 70% of the hospitals refusing service just because they can. You cant hold the public hostage just because you can ! This is borderline criminal.

In my eyes this is similar to TEPCO shutting down the electricity in Tokyo just because they are worried their employees will contract covid19 if they keep the lights on for nightlife establishments.

Just took my son to the hoikuen, walking past some small bars at 8:30 in the morning there were 20 something's spilling out of all night bars, two girls with no masks drunk and a group of guys with them hugging each other.

Their ability to sit around in meetings bobbing their heads and tooth sucking is something we should all take comfort in.

NHK: The best graduates of elite national universities go to work for the government. They know how to conduct meetings. And they are always on the lookout for the best for the people.

Just took my son to the hoikuen, walking past some small bars at 8:30 in the morning there were 20 something's spilling out of all night bars, two girls with no masks drunk and a group of guys with them hugging each other

So ? Are you saying they are irresponsible ?

Tokyo is brought down in its knees with just 101 C19 severe cases . This is big the problem , it isn't the young being young.

Where's his meeting with Government health experts on how to speed up giving the vaccine to people???

Is this lockdown only for shops or will schools be cancelled too like last April?

Is this lockdown only for shops or will schools be cancelled too like last April?

I am not sure 100% and of course there probably is space for exceptions, but by definition the SoE means schools are closed .

Quite honestly the first time around the schools closure nearly wore me down.

If your children small and in a private schools the SoE means pay a lot of money for online learning , do a lot if homework during the day and work at night when they are a sleep.

@n1k1

Yes damn skippy they are being irresponsible. Because of their inability to slightly alter their behavior (wear masks and social distance) we face a new SOE lockdown like the one last year that destroyed one of my businesses and if the hoikuens close again then I cannot telework from home anymore so It will eliminate all of my income.

Oh, he may HEAR it, but he won't listen if it's something he hasn't already determined. I think that's clear by the fact that he never listens to what people want.

This governments incompetence is mind boggling!!!

"Gemuchenja" - Covid 19's new gobal, more tranmissible, mutation strain 501.V2 from South Africa and the UK variant B.1.1.7 are particularly concerning.

Every once in a while, a virus strikes it lucky by mutating in a way that positively affects its ability to survive and reproduce.This has occurred over the past few weeks with Covid 19.

In my very humble opinion, judging by all your comments, if the JGovt and people's behaviour is inadequate now, then the arrival of these two strains into Japan will be deeply worrisome.