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by Trafalgar Law » 13 Apr 2020, 12:16
A Japanese island declared a state of emergency for a second time.
In an example of how initial successes of a social distancing campaign can fade once restrictions are relaxed, Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, declared a state of emergency for a second time on Sunday and called on residents to stay at home for all but the most essential outings.
Hokkaido’s governor, Naomichi Suzuki, said the government was taking action because of a second wave of infections. Long before Japan’s central government issued a state of emergency for the country’s seven largest prefectures last week, Hokkaido independently called for a soft lockdown of the region on Feb. 28. As cases appeared to come under control, the prefecture lifted the state of emergency on March 19 and slowly allowed schools to reopen.
Overall case numbers are still low in Hokkaido, but the government is concerned about how quickly they are multiplying. Four new cases were confirmed on April 7, and had tripled within five days to 12.
On Sunday, Hokkaido and Sapporo, the provincial capital, asked residents to refrain from going out, cease traveling and avoid restaurants — particularly for “business entertainment.” All schools in Sapporo will also be closed from April 14 through May 6.
In Osaka, Japan’s third largest city, the governor requested on Monday that a range of businesses including night clubs, internet cafes, karaoke venues, pachinko parlors, movie theaters, gyms, museums and libraries close until May 6.
The governor, Hirofumi Yoshimura, said he was asking businesses to close “to prevent an explosive expansion of infections in Osaka.” The move followed similar requests in Tokyo. Under the law authorizing the state of emergency, governors have the power only to request that businesses close. Those who do not comply can be publicized, but not officially punished.
Japan’s health ministry reported 530 new cases and four deaths on Sunday, taking Japan’s total to 7,255 cases and 102 deaths.
In Tokyo, the city reported 166 new cases on Sunday, more than half of which were concentrated in one hospital in the Nakano ward of the city. Both patients and staff members were infected. The Nakano hospital’s infections were the latest of several recent clusters reported at hospitals in Japan.
@NY times