Coronavirus: Japan weighs cost of Tokyo lockdown and Wagyu beef coupons for households

Officials have dismissed growing calls for Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak

Politicians want the government to include coupons for domestic produce such as Wagyu beef in its stimulus package for households and businesses

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A security guard stands on a bridge on the River Meguro to warn visitors to avoid crowds in Tokyo, amid the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 7:00am, 31 Mar 2020Updated: 10:36am, 31 Mar 2020

Japan’s top government spokesman on Monday moved to dispel growing talk of a lockdown in the capital Tokyo, amid concerns that restrictions on movement would wreak damage on an economy already hit hard by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s not true that the government is planning on declaring a state of emergency from April 1,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, adding that an expected phone call between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), had nothing to do with that topic.

But a top Japanese doctor called on Abe to issue an emergency decree to fight the outbreak.

“If we wait until an explosive increase in infections before declaring an emergency, it will be too late,” Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association, told a news conference.

Commuters walk out of a Tokyo rail station on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

“Almost everyone agreed that it’s better to declare a state of emergency,” he said, referring to a discussion among the members of the panel before the briefing.

Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said Tokyo and Osaka would be prime candidates to enforce measures, such as issuing stay-at-home requests to residents.

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