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On January 24, 2020, the Prime Minister held a ministerial meeting on countermeasures to the infectious disease related to the novel coronavirus at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on countermeasures to the infectious disease related to the novel coronavirus.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Concerning the infectious disease related to the novel coronavirus that has recently been reported in Wuhan, China, in the early morning today, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement emphasizing the importance of undertaking surveillance in countries outside of China as human-to-human transmission has been confirmed, although it has not reached the level of a public health emergency of international concern.
 
With respect to patients of this disease, 571 patients have been confirmed in China as of yesterday; the number is increasing as cases have been confirmed in Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
 
In Japan too, the second case has been confirmed today. In light of such a situation, the Government will accelerate its efforts based on the basic policy that this ministerial meeting adopted on January 21.
 
I ask the relevant ministers to continue to exert every effort towards preventing the further spread of the disease in the country and ensuring the safety of all Japanese nationals overseas, including further implementing quarantine measures, making an arrangement to enable local public health institutions to conduct the screening that the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is conducting for strengthening surveillance, and providing timely and accurate information to the public, as well as disseminating information and providing necessary supports to Japanese nationals overseas through embassies.
 
I ask that the public strictly adhere to prevention measures against the common cold and behave calmly without overly reacting.”