Covid-19: Japan partially lifts state of emergency
Audio 01:15
The state of emergency is lifted this Sunday in nine of the ten regions where it was in force, in Tokyo in particular.
Charly TRIBALLEAU AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In Japan, the fourth wave of the coronavirus epidemic that has swept the country since March is finally starting to ebb.
The state of emergency is therefore lifted this Sunday, June 19 in nine of the ten regions where it was in force, in Tokyo in particular where a regime called "quasi-state of emergency", a little less restrictive, has nonetheless. been established.
Whereas, Wednesday we will be one month to the day from the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, on July 23, what do the inhabitants of the Japanese capital think of the lifting of this state of emergency?
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Tokyo
,
Bruno Duval
The state of emergency,
the third of the name
in the Japanese capital, was established at the end of April.
Its lifting is greeted with relief by these Tokyoites:
"
The return to normal, to real life: I dreamed of it
," said a woman.
But we are going to have to all remain very, very careful…
. ”
“
The precautionary principle, okay, but at some point you have to make sure you have a balanced policy that also cares about the economy.
This never-ending state of emergency put a lot of small traders in trouble
, ”continues a man.
However, according to the polls, many believe that it would have been more prudent to renew the state of emergency.
That's what these downtown residents think.
"
Me, in any case, I will continue to leave home as little as possible.
I'm really scared of this virus too much
, ”confides a resident.
“
After that, the government should not be surprised that the number of contaminations is on the rise again
.
», Adds another.
“
Lifting the state of emergency when nine out of ten Japanese have still not been vaccinated ... my arms are falling out of me,
laments another.
It shows that they are really desperate for the damn Tokyo Games to take place ...
"
"
The state of emergency was not lifted because of the health situation, but for political purposes: in the hope of appeasing the controversy surrounding the holding of the Olympics
".
In Japan at the moment, this comment is looping on social networks.
►
To read also:
Tokyo 2021: spectators at the Games?
Meeting on June 21
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