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On April 9, 2021, the Prime Minister held the 60th meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, the participants discussed the response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Following the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

 “Today, we decided to implement priority measures to prevent the spread of disease in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Okinawa Prefectures. These measures will be in effect from April 12 until May 11 in Tokyo and until May 5 in Kyoto and Okinawa.

We took the decision on the implementation in light of the increasing number of cases of new infections and the concerns that medical institutions will be under pressure in these regions, and other factors.

We will take area- and time- limited measures as strong as those under the declaration of a state of emergency, including shortening the operating hours of dining and drinking establishments until 8 PM and making it possible for penalties to be imposed.

Around 70 percent of new cases of infections in Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures and approximately 20 percent of those in Tokyo found to be highly infections coronavirus variants. Hence, we have maintained the highest level of vigilance.

In addition to continuing countermeasures centered on drinking and dining, we request the public to refrain from non-essential and non-urgent travel between prefectures as much as possible. Moreover, the Government will work in close cooperation with local governments in effective implementation of measures, including patrols of all dining and drinking establishments, regular testing at elderly care facilities, and ensuring that the medical treatment structure is sound.

We will continue to suppress infections by flexibly and intensively taking measures focused on local communities in order to prevent waves arising in local areas from forming a large, nation-wide wave.

I ask each minister to continue to thoroughly implement measures, following today’s decision.”