Regarding the state of emergency issued to 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures in the metropolitan area, the government is adjusting the deadline on the 7th of this month by 2 weeks to the 21st of this month, and an infectious disease expert on the 5th. After asking for opinions from the advisory committee created by the above, the countermeasures headquarters will make the decision.
"It should be extended and the infection should be thoroughly suppressed" (Medical institution)
"I feel depressed" (Izakaya)
"It's a time when the number of people is high, so it's quite difficult" (Tourist spot)
People who want to extend the declaration We heard urgent voices from both of us and those who were confused about the extension of the declaration.
Declaration extension tomorrow decision until 21st of this month Government
Regarding the state of emergency in the Tokyo metropolitan area and 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures, which is due on the 7th of this month, the government needs to improve the tightness of beds as a result of analyzing the infection situation and medical care provision system in the target area. As such, we are proceeding with adjustments to extend the deadline for declaration by two weeks to the 21st of this month.
Prime Minister Suga told the House of Councilors Budget Committee, "In my opinion, it has already come to the point of cancellation, but while the condition of the sickbed is still severe, it can be greatly improved if you give me two weeks. It's a judgment. With the cooperation of the people for about two weeks, we can move toward convergence. "
On the 5th, the government will ask an advisory board made up of infectious disease experts to indicate the extension policy until the 21st of this month, and if consent is obtained, it will be decided by the response headquarters after reporting in the Diet and asking questions. I am doing it.
What are the reactions from all sides to the extension of the "declaration"?
1. Medical institution "Infection should be suppressed by extending the declaration"
Medical institutions are saying, "We should extend the declaration to control the infection so that the bed will not be strained again."
The "Tokyo North Medical Center" in Kita-ku, Tokyo has mainly accepted patients with mild or moderate disease of the new coronavirus.
In the third wave, the number of patients increased rapidly from December last year, and the dedicated beds of the new Corona remained almost full.
We accepted 93 patients in December last year and 84 patients in January, but the number decreased to 37 last month due to the decrease in the number of infected people due to the state of emergency.
Bed usage is currently below 30%.
However, as the number of infected people has slowed down in Tokyo recently, hospitals are becoming more cautious, saying, "I don't know when the infection will spread again and the number of patients will increase rapidly."
In fact, in December of last year, there were cases in which the sickbed became so tight that doctors and nurses could not be reached, and we had to refuse to accept patients in general medical care such as emergency.
In addition, the hospital is also the venue for the new corona vaccine, which means that 15 staff members, including doctors and nurses, will be needed once the vaccination begins in earnest.
For this reason, if the bed becomes tight again, vaccination may be significantly affected.
Dr. Kunihisa Miyazaki, Tokyo North Medical Center
"If the declaration is canceled before the number of infected people is sufficiently reduced, the bed may become tight at once, so the declaration should be extended to thoroughly suppress the infection. Many people. At least we should maintain the current state until the vaccine is delivered to Miyazaki. "
2. Disappointing voices from restaurants ...
Izakaya chains in Tokyo have voiced concerns about the impact of shortening business hours during seasons such as welcome and farewell parties.
The izakaya chain "Tsubohachi" has been closed and shortened its business hours at its directly managed stores in Tokyo and Kanagawa since January after receiving a state of emergency.
Of these, the store in Asakusa, Tokyo, which has shortened its business hours by 8:00 pm, is often used by people who enjoy farewell parties and cherry blossom viewing along the Sumida River in March every year, and it is said that it is the time of year when sales are high. As a matter of fact, there are almost no reservations this month.
The store has been working part-time and procuring ingredients in anticipation that the state of emergency will expire on the 7th of this month, but it is reported that it is being considered to extend the declaration. I heard that employees are also disappointed.
Manager Yuki Furuya
"I was thinking of increasing my motivation to lift the declaration, but I felt depressed. It is a matter of life and death that the declaration will be extended in March, but the government has declared it. I want you to take a sharp response so that you can stop the increase in the number of infected people and return to normal without delaying it. "
3. Sightseeing spot, Enoshima Considering whether to cancel the festival next weekend
At Enoshima in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, we have decided to consider whether to cancel the festival scheduled for next weekend so that tourists can feel the spring.
In Enoshima, Fujisawa City, tourists from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Tokyo metropolitan area visit every year at this time of year, and the local shopping district is crowded with many people, but the number of people is decreasing and sales are halved depending on the store. It means that there is an influence such as doing.
Regarding the prospect of extension of the declaration, Hideo Watanabe, the owner of the restaurant "Yukaitei" on the island, said, "The number of customers is completely different due to the state of emergency. March will be spring. It's a time when the number of people is increasing, so it's pretty tough if the declaration is extended and it's broken. "
In addition, local tourist associations and shopping districts are planning festivals such as a children's procession and playing Japanese drums for two days on the 13th and 14th of this month so that tourists can feel the spring.
We planned to reduce the scale of the festival in anticipation of the cancellation of the declaration, but we decided to consider whether to cancel the festival because it was expected to be extended.
Yuichi Yuasa, Chairman of the Fujisawa City Tourism Association (running a Japanese confectionery store)
"Last year, I was enthusiastic about the fact that I decided to cancel due to the influence of the new corona, and I was enthusiastic about this. I'm in great trouble because I have to cooperate. "
4. Soccer J2 "Tokyo Classic" visitor seat sales
It is also having an impact in the field of sports.
At "Machida GION Stadium" in Machida, Tokyo, a match between soccer J2 Machida Zelvia and Tokyo Verdy is scheduled for the 14th of this month.
This card, in which the Tokyo teams play against each other, is also called "Tokyo Classic" and is known for the supporters of both teams to cheer more than usual.
This season, the J-League has stipulated in its guidelines that no visitor seats will be set up in areas where a state of emergency has been declared to prevent the spread of infection due to the movement of people.
For this reason, no visitor seats will be prepared at the Zelvia home opening game held on the 28th of last month, and if the declaration is lifted on the 7th, the game on the 14th will have 820 seats for the first time this season. did.
However, if the declaration is extended for about two weeks, it will stop selling as a visitor seat and will call on Verdy supporters to refrain from watching the game at the stadium.
Tomoki Taguchi (Manager, Marketing Department, Machida Zelvia Management Company)
"It's a shame that we can't prepare a visitor seat because" Tokyo Classic "is a game that is more exciting than usual. However, it is difficult to manage. I hope that the infection will be settled as soon as possible and the stadium will be crowded with many supporters as soon as possible. "
1 metropolitan area 3 prefectures Today's infection status
The number of infected people was newly announced on the 4th in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures.
▽ The number of people in Tokyo is 279, and the rate of decrease continues to slow down.
▽ There were 123 people in Saitama prefecture.
In addition,
▽ Kanagawa prefecture had 138 people and
▽ Chiba prefecture had 107 people,
both of which exceeded 100 people on the 3rd.
Governor of Tokyo Koike "It's hard for businesses to just extend"
Governor Koike of Tokyo told reporters, "If you just extend it as it is, everyone will be strict and it will be especially difficult for business operators. We may continue to hold discussions because we may cooperate in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures." I did.
In this, Governor Koike said, "I think that many people were worried about the rebound when it was lifted while there were some concerns such as the number of infected people stopped falling and mutant strains," Prime Minister Suga declared a state of emergency. He showed his understanding for showing the idea of considering in the direction of extending.
On top of that, "However, it is difficult for everyone to just extend it as it is, especially for business operators. In such a situation, we may cooperate in 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures, so we will continue discussions. I want to. "
Governor Ohno of Saitama Prefecture "Thorough measures are extremely important"
Governor Ohno of Saitama Prefecture said that it is important to take thorough infection prevention measures, and announced that he would provide a new cooperation fund to restaurants, etc. in response to requests for shortening business hours.
Regarding the consideration that the state of emergency will be extended for about two weeks, Governor Ohno said, "Thorough measures to prevent infection are extremely important. Monitoring in the downtown area decided by the national subcommittee to prevent rebound. We would like to consider conducting investigations ahead of schedule and strengthen tactical measures to prevent medical institutions from becoming exhausted. "
In addition, he said, "In the past one or two weeks, small clusters at karaoke stores have occurred in three places. Unfortunately, the number of people is gradually returning to normal and I am strongly concerned." I asked him to refrain from going out suddenly.
In addition, Governor Ohno has announced that if the state of emergency is extended for two weeks, a cooperation fee of 840,000 yen will be provided to restaurants, etc. that respond to requests to shorten business hours for all periods.
Mayor Hayashi of Yokohama City "unavoidable judgment"
Mayor Fumiko Hayashi of Yokohama City said at a press conference, "Isn't it an unavoidable decision?"
At the regular press conference on the 4th, Mayor Hayashi said about the extension of about two weeks, "The number of patients in Yokohama city is decreasing, but 1 metropolitan area and 3 prefectures are related in various ways such as people coming and going. So it's an unavoidable decision. I'm really sorry to the business and the business community. I can't agree that this will be extended by one month, but if it converges early within two weeks, I'd like you to cancel it one by one. " Said.
On top of that, Mayor Hayashi said, "The number of people in the town is increasing. There may be some relaxation that we are okay," and called for continued thorough infection prevention measures.