According to the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a response to the government ’s new coronary pneumonia epidemic countermeasures meeting at 17:15 Beijing time Declaration of emergency in the Japanese capital and other regions. What is the difference between “emergency” and the well-known Chinese anti-epidemic strategy? On March 14th, the Japanese government was busy amending the law. Why was it delayed to this day? This article may answer your doubts. This article is from public micro-channel number: FIG expected future (ID: D-Labo) , author: Zhao Hui, Xing Mengni, Graphic design: Che Lingling
On the evening of April 7, nearly a month before the amendment of the “Special Measures for New Influenza Countermeasures” was passed, Japan finally issued an “Emergency Declaration.” However, this declaration is not equivalent to “closing the city” in our understanding. What does it mean?
○ You will see in this article:
1. In which regions is the “Emergency Declaration” targeted? How long is it expected?
2. What are the special effects of the “Emergency Declaration”?
3. Why did Japan post such a “declaration” after so long?
4. Under the declaration, Japan still faces the crisis of “collapse of medical system”?
Which regions does the “Emergency Declaration” target? How long is it expected?
The “Emergency Declaration” does mean that the Japanese epidemic is worse. If no more measures are taken, it may be further expanded or even out of control.
Since Japan entered the cherry blossom season, especially since March 25, the number of people infected with Tokyo has continued to grow at a rapid rate. At present, the number of infected persons in Tokyo has exceeded one thousand, followed by Osaka, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi, Hyogo, Hokkaido, and Saitama. In addition to the relatively controlled Hokkaido epidemic, the number of infected people in many local governments in Japan has increased significantly.
△ On March 22nd, many people still enjoy cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, Japan. On March 27, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government called on the people to “self-sufficiency” and closed some of the Metropolitan Park paths including Ueno Park. Image source | Reuters, photography | Issel Kato
The Japanese government expects that the “emergency declaration” will take effect for one month (April 8th to May 6th) , covering a total of 7 cities in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka Daofu County.
Under the “Declaration of Emergency Situations”, governors of all prefectures and counties can implement specific measures according to local conditions.
What special impact does the “Urgent Declaration” have?
After the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued the “Declaration of Emergency Situations”, the governors of various local governments in Japan (equivalent to the governor of China) will Ask the public to reduce “unnecessary” and “not urgent” outings.
But this does not mean “closing the city”, and “going out of the city” is not mandatory. People can still go to work and shop. Supermarkets, convenience stores, and drug stores are not closed in principle. There is no downtime. However, the store may limit the number of people entering the store based on the flow of people, or determine whether to shorten the business hours according to the actual situation.
Students may face long vacations. Each local government has the right to order or instruct primary and secondary schools, high schools and kindergartens to suspend classes. The government will also require social welfare facilities such as day care facilities for the elderly to be closed, but care facilities for special medical needs will still be operating normally. When the epidemic is serious, the government also has the right to request the nursery to close down.
△ At the entrance ceremony of a school in Yokohama, students kept a certain distance and were all wearing masks. Image source | AFP
In addition, all commercial cinemas, department stores, museums, hotels, universities, technical schools and other facilities covering more than 1,000 square meters will also be closed by the government.
In principle, small-scale restaurants are not within the scope of this regulation, and each owner can adjust the business plan based on the current situation and on the basis of ensuring certain prevention measures.
Chain restaurants or family restaurants will continue to operate. But each family will have different prevention and control measures. For example, the family restaurant chain Jonathan’s will increase the number of takeaways; the restaurant chain Salia decided to implement an alcohol restriction strategy, in which each person can buy up to 2 bottles of beer-because after drinking, the volume may increase, which is easy between people Produce close spray contact.
For institutions or facilities that do not comply with the requirements, the Governor may issue an “instruction” and publish the name of the institution that received the instruction on the homepage of the government website to help residents understand the latest situation.
Public transportation may be a major hidden danger in the spread of infection. However, Japan ’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said in March that it should ensure the basic functions of public transportation even in an emergency. According to Articles 20 and 24 of the Special Measures for New Influenza Countermeasures, the Prime Minister and the governors of the prefectures and prefectures can negotiate with the railway and bus companies and other organizations on transportation arrangements during the outbreak. There are currently no road closure plans.
In addition, various supplies related to people’s livelihood such as electricity, gas, and communications will continue to be maintained normally. Although logistics companies such as post offices and home delivery services continue to operate, delivery may be delayed and store opening hours may be shortened. Banks will continue to operate, but people will be more encouraged to use ATM. Taxi companies will continue to maintain taxi “attendance”, but may reduce the number of vehicles.
In short, within the effective period and scope of this declaration, schools and other places with a higher risk of infection will be required to suspend classes or businesses, companies and supplies related to people ’s livelihood will continue, and large entertainment and shopping venues Will be closed.
Under the “Declaration of Emergency Situations”, the most stringent measures are mainly aimed at two points. First, when there are insufficient medical resources, in order to establish temporary medical institutions, the government hasThe right does not require the owner ’s consent to temporarily acquire land and house. The second is that during special periods, the government has the right to buy out medical supplies, food, masks and other sanitary products from specific institutions. In case of violation, the fine is also mainly related to the above two points.
Japan has prepared three weeks for issuing the “Declaration of Emergency Situations”. During this period, many people have already stored adequate amounts of food and daily necessities. At the same time, since supermarkets and convenience stores will not be blocked during the declaration’s entry into force, and residents are not required to go out, the supply of food and daily necessities such as supermarkets is relatively normal, and there has been no large-scale panic buying. The supply of toilet paper in some areas has gradually recovered, but purchases are still restricted. However, the supply of masks is still insufficient.