Japan will carefully explore the possibility of declaring a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, with the growth in new cases and the economic implications in mind.
Japan is planning to place an entry ban on foreign nationals from an additional 49 countries and territories.
It has been disclosed that 38 people in Tokyo infected with the coronavirus may have contracted it at night spots.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20200331200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : state of emergency economic implication
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_05/
Japan will carefully explore the possibility of declaring a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, with the growth in new cases and the economic implications in mind.
On Monday, a member of a government advisory panel revealed that a majority of the members are in favor of making a declaration. He said many believe that it will be too late for the country to do so after seeing an explosive increase in cases.
Meanwhile, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said Japan has managed to keep the outbreak under control.
Suga said the government is committed to preventing the spread of infection by working even more closely with municipalities across the country.
The government believes that the nation has yet to reach a point where an emergency declaration is necessary. It says that the Japanese capital has so far had a small number of cases relative to the size of its population. It also says the routes of transmission have been tracked down to a certain extent.
The government has also denied a possible lockdown of cities at this moment.
But the government thinks Japan is at risk of experiencing an explosive surge in new cases, so it is moving to step up restrictions on its border.
Japan plans to include in its list of entry denials foreigners arriving from the United States, China and South Korea as well as most parts of Europe and some parts of Southeast Asia.
Key words : Koike to declare
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_34/
Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has urged Japan's prime minister to decide whether to declare a state of emergency to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Koike met Abe Shinzo on Tuesday at the prime minister's office.
She later told reporters at the metropolitan government office that she and Abe discussed the number of infections in Tokyo, what could happen from now, and how the capital is preparing.
Koike said she briefed the prime minister on the situation in Tokyo as a reference for deciding whether to declare a state of emergency based on newly enacted legislation.
She said Tokyo is on the brink, and that now is the time for the central government to make up its mind.
Koike added that the metropolitan government will take into account the ideas of the central government in deciding when to reopen schools after their spring break.
Key words : Akaba
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_33/
Japanese transport minister Akaba Kazuyoshi says public transport will continue to operate even if a state of emergency is declared to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Akaba said on Tuesday that railways, buses and other public transport must be kept functioning as they make up the key infrastructure that supports people's lives and economic activities.
But he added that such services could be scaled back if operational personnel were to get infected by the virus.
Akaba said that in such a case, his ministry will work with the operators to minimize the impact on users.
Key words : planning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_24/
Japan is planning to place an entry ban on foreign nationals from an additional 49 countries and territories as the coronavirus pandemic expands.
Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu revealed the plan on Tuesday. The additional areas will include the United States, Canada, and all of China and South Korea as well as Britain and Greece, covering most of Europe.
The updated list will cover a total of 73 countries and territories, including Africa, South America and parts of the Middle East.
Foreigners who have been to any of those regions within 14 days of arriving in Japan will not be allowed entry.
Motegi also said the Foreign Ministry raised travel alerts for those 49 countries and territories to level 3, urging Japanese nationals to avoid traveling to them.
The alerts for all countries and territories other than those ranked level 3 were raised to level 2. Japanese nationals are being warned against making any non-essential trips to such places.
Key words : has been disclosed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_06/
It has been disclosed that 38 people in Tokyo confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus whose infection routes remain unclear may have contracted the virus at night spots.
At a news conference on Monday, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko urged people not to spend time in bars and other spots operating during the nighttime hours. Koike said that such entertainment establishments are high risk, because they are closed spaces with poor ventilation.
At the news conference, it was also disclosed that there are 38 people who are believed to have been infected with the virus at bars, nightclubs or similar spots. The infected range in age from their 20s to 70s, and include both customers and staff members.
The metropolitan government specifically urges young people not to go to karaoke parlors or live music sites for the time being.
It is asking older people to refrain from going to bars, clubs, and other night spots.
Key words : Yoshimura lower risk
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Key words : petition hit club
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Key words : Tokyo metropolitan 78 people
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Key words : survey shows lost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_32/
A Japanese government survey shows that more than 1,000 people lost their jobs during the last two months due to the worsening business situation amid the coronavirus outbreak.
To find out how the outbreak is affecting employment, labor ministry officials interviewed executives who had visited labor bureaus across the country.
The results showed that 1,021 workers were either laid off or faced nonrenewal of their contracts since late January.
Many of the workers were in the tourism and hotel industries, which are being affected by a plunge in visitors from overseas.
More than 3,800 firms said that they had already taken measures to cut their workforce or are considering doing so. They include an increasing number of restaurants which are being affected as more people stay home.
By prefecture, the impact on employment is notable in Chiba and Osaka.
Chiba, which neighbors Tokyo and hosts Narita Airport, is suffering from the sharp decline in foreign tourists.
Osaka in western Japan is the location of live music venues where mass infections occurred.
Key words : south korea nearly
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_43/
In South Korea, where nearly 9,800 coronavirus cases have been reported, the education ministry has decided to start the new school year next week using online classes.
Under the plan, students in the third grade of junior high school, and those in the third year of high school, will start their semester from Thursday next week.
The rest of the students as well as elementary schools will begin by mid-April.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae says it is still not safe for students to return to school.
The new school year in the country usually starts at the beginning of March, but authorities have already postponed it three times.
Some media are questioning whether all households will be able to prepare for online classes in such a short period of time.
Key words : China is tighten
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_27/
China is tightening border controls as coronavirus outbreak deepens worldwide. The new restrictions mean that almost all Japanese citizens are banned from entering the country.
The Chinese government had already suspended visa waivers for short-term Japanese visitors, unless they were traveling for business or to see relatives. But starting Tuesday, those trips will also be prohibited.
The move comes days after Beijing imposed a wide-reaching ban on foreign nationals entering the country.
Key words : world bank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_17/
The World Bank predicts China's economic growth this year could be the slowest in 44 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a report on the economies of East Asia and the Pacific, the World Bank says China will likely grow just 2.3 percent in 2020. That's down sharply from 6.1 percent last year. It would also be the slowest since 1976, at the end of the Cultural Revolution.
Growth this year could be just a tenth of a percent in a worst-case scenario. But the World Bank sees some bright signs. It says China is starting to get back on track, even though a quick rebound is unlikely.
Government data show factory activity in March actually ticked up.
The National Bureau of Statistics says its Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing rose to 52. That's a big jump from February, when it sank to 35.7, a record low.
The 50-point mark separates growth from contraction.
Key words : Johnson
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_11/
US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson says it hopes to obtain emergency approval for a new coronavirus vaccine early next year, with plans to distribute a billion doses around the world.
The company announced on Monday the selection of a lead candidate vaccine following months of research. It plans to start human clinical studies by September at the latest.
The company says it expects to obtain clinical data on the safety and efficacy of the new vaccine by the end of the year, with a view to obtaining US federal authorization for emergency use in early 2021.
Johnson & Johnson adds it is also expanding its manufacturing capacity.
The US National Institutes of Health separately announced the start of a clinical trial for an experimental vaccine in mid-March, along with a biotechnology firm.
Pharmaceutical firms and research labs around the world are rushing to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus, in an urgent effort to contain the pandemic.
Key words : government panel unable
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20200331_31/
A Japanese government panel says Tokyo would become unable to function as the country's capital in about three hours if a large-scale eruption of Mount Fuji were to occur.
When Mount Fuji last erupted in December 1707, it spewed ash for more than two weeks. Several centimeters accumulated in the city of Edo, which later became Tokyo.
The government panel simulated what would happen if an eruption of that scale were to occur today, covering the greater Tokyo area with volcanic ash.
It found that the ash would likely reach central Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama just three hours after the eruption.
All railway services would stop, as even a very small amount of ash would cause the operating system to malfunction.
In addition, poor visibility would disrupt auto traffic, limiting people's movement and halting commuters.
Logistics would be disturbed, possibly resulting in shortages of food and water.
If it were to rain, volcanic ash could stick to power supply facilities and cause a blackout in central Tokyo.
Communication and water supply systems could also be rendered useless.
The panel's chief examiner, Fujii Toshitsugu, a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, says it's difficult to predict an eruption and its aftermath.
Fujii says the capital city, particularly its transportation networks, would become unable to function after an eruption and people's movement would be stopped.
He says it will be too late to take measures after an eruption, and urges them to be considered in advance.
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