(On the request from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to apply priority measures to prevent the spread of disease)

I would like to first mention that today we have received a request from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to apply priority measures to prevent the spread of disease. In Tokyo, the number of new infection cases has exceeded 500 for the past two days with the occupancy rate for hospital beds on the increase. Following the request made under such circumstances, we a held a meeting attended by the five relevant ministers and decided to consult the expert committee tomorrow over the requested application of priority measures to prevent the spread of disease to Tokyo.

We have yet to make any decision on the scope of the target area other than Tokyo or time frames. However, we intend to come up with the direction flexibly and urgently while discussing the matter with local authorities.

 (On the request to apply priority measures to prevent the spread of disease, which was made a little more than two weeks after the declaration of a state of emergency was lifted)

The priority measures to prevent the spread of disease are a set of measures that can be flexibly implemented to avoid another declaration of a state of emergency. In this context, they have been applied to Osaka and Hyogo Prefectures and today, we received the request from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and decided to consult the expert committee tomorrow.

 (On the scope of the priority measures to prevent the spread of disease)

The application of the priority measures to other regions is currently under consideration.

 (On the criteria for the application of priority measures to prevent the spread of disease)

The priority measures to prevent the spread of disease are applied when benchmarks reach to Stage 3 in term of the number (of new infection cases) and the occupancy rate of hospital beds at 25%. In areas where a rapid increase in the figures that could reach Stage 4 is identified, the priority measures will be implemented.

 (On the situation in Tokyo)

We will hold a meeting of the expert committee tomorrow to consult the experts.

 (On the request to apply priority measures to prevent the spread of disease, which was made a little more than two weeks after the declaration of a state of emergency was lifted [follow-up question])

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government made the request for the application of priority measures to prevent the spread of disease as the number of new infection cases continued to increase despite the shortening of the operating hours of dining and drinking establishments in Tokyo to 9 PM. Thus, the government will consult the expert committee tomorrow.

 (On whether stronger measures should be taken)

We think that the priority measures to prevent the spread of disease are already strong as they include the shortening of the operating hours of dining and drinking establishments to 8 PM. We believe that the request was made today based on such an overall consideration of the situation.