Japan is preparing to declare a state of emergency because of "Corona"

On Monday, the Japanese government is preparing to declare a state of emergency to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, which has seen a recent acceleration in parts of the country, especially in Tokyo.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will consult a committee of experts advising his government to manage the health crisis and many local media are expecting to declare a state of emergency tomorrow, Tuesday.

Despite its proximity to China, the epicenter of the Covid-19 epidemic, Japan is still less affected by the epidemic than Europe or the United States.

The archipelago recorded 3,650 injuries as of Sunday and 73 deaths, according to the latest official toll.

However, the number of injuries has increased significantly over the past two weeks, especially in Tokyo, where 148 new injuries were recorded on Sunday, a new local record.

This outcome has gradually increased pressure on the government to intensify its work to tackle the epidemic. Tokyo Governor Yoriko Koike called on its employees to work as remote as possible and avoid unnecessary transfers over the weekend.

"We have not received any formal decision yet, but we are making preparations based on the assumption that Tokyo will be" among the areas covered by the emergency, Koike told reporters on Monday.

It is expected that the state of emergency will cover only certain regions, without including the strict isolation measures in place similar to those applied in many other countries today, especially in Europe.

On a practical level, the governors of the regions concerned will "demand" residents to stay in their homes and invite unnecessary shops to suspend their work. It will also allow the authorities to seize land or buildings for medical purposes.

However, the Japanese authorities do not have the right to compel people to restrict their movement, close shops or punish them if they do not follow the instructions.

The system relies heavily on the spirit of citizenship that citizens enjoy and is subject to social pressure, which is generally a major deterrent.

"Japan continues to be dominated by the dark legacy" of its military regime that lasted until 1945, and severely persecuted individual freedoms, "Yoshinobu Yamamoto, professor of international relations at Tokyo University, told AFP.

If the current framework of the emergency is not successful, he added, "some voices may call for greater authority to control people. This may set a precedent."