Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > February 2020 > First Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting
The Prime Minister in Action
First Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting
February 16, 2020
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (3)
[Provisional Translation]
On February 16, 2020, the Prime Minister attended the first Novel Coronavirus Expert Meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, there was a discussion on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“With respect to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the situation is changing with every moment. Just recently, a patient passed away for the first time in Japan and multiple cases have been confirmed in which the route of transmission is difficult to identify.
In response to such a situation, we would like to ask you, the experts who are working on the front line in the respective fields, to give due consideration based on the medical and scientific perspectives, including the characteristics of the virus and other knowledge we have gathered so far.
Specifically, we would like to ask you to discuss the characteristics of the virus and its epidemiological assessment as well as the compilation of a guide for patients that indicates when to consult, which is easy for the public to understand, in particular elderly people, or those with underlying diseases.
The Government will introduce further countermeasures in advance, following the advice based on the medical and scientific perspectives proposed by this expert meeting. I ask for your contributions.”
