With the Subcommittee on Novel Coronavirus Disease Control having submitted its recommendations yesterday, today I convened a meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Headquarters, where I gave instructions to each minister regarding countermeasures against infections. First and foremost, the Government will immediately implement what it can do right now. We will conduct intensive testing at medical and elderly care facilities for patients and residents, who tend to develop severe symptoms.

Regarding the Go To Travel Campaign, we will introduce the measure of suspending the campaign in areas where infections are spreading. The Government will also extend firm support, providing grants for restaurant operators who shorten their business hours. For the Go To Eat Campaign, we would like to request local governments to take measures such as suspending the issuance of new vouchers.

The protection of people's lives and livelihoods is the most weighty responsibility vested in the Government. Taking this opportunity, I would like to make a further request to the people amidst this situation, namely to wear masks, whose effectiveness has been proven through supercomputer simulations. I sincerely ask you to wear masks, even when dining. In addition, I would also like to sincerely request once again that you take the basic preventive measures of handwashing and avoiding the 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings).