Coronavirus latest: Japan declares state of emergency; Boris Johnson ‘stable’ in intensive care

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Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (front L) declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:37am, 7 Apr 2020Updated: 11:28pm, 7 Apr 2020

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday declared a month-long state of emergency to fight new coronavirus infections in major population centres and unveiled a stimulus package he described as among the world’s biggest to soften the economic blow.

Abe announced the state of emergency targeting the capital Tokyo and six other prefectures - accounting for about 44 per cent of Japan’s population - for a period of about one month.

“We have decided to declare a state of emergency because we’ve judged that a fast spread of the coronavirus nationwide would have an enormous impact on lives and the economy,” he told parliament earlier.

His cabinet also approved a stimulus package worth 108.2 trillion yen (US$993 billion) - equal to 20 per cent of Japan’s economic output - to cushion the impact of the epidemic on the world’s third-largest economy.

Japan has been spared the big outbreaks of the coronavirus seen in other global hot spots, but a recent, steady rise in infections in Tokyo, Osaka and other areas led to growing calls for Abe to announce a state of emergency.

Coronavirus infections in Tokyo more than doubled to about 1,200 in the past week, with more than 80 new ones reported on Tuesday, accounting for the highest number in the country. Nationwide, cases have climbed past 4,000 with 93 deaths as of Monday.