(On the extension of the declaration of the state of emergency)

The declaration of the state of emergency was extended today, with Aichi and Fukuoka Prefectures added to the areas covered by the declaration. I feel terribly sorry for the extension, but as the Golden Week ended, we are now at a critical juncture. Therefore, I would sincerely like to ask for the cooperation of the public.

With regard to the schedule of vaccination, we have been informed that 1,490 municipalities, which account for 85 percent of all municipalities across the country, will complete the inoculation of the elderly by the end of July, thanks to the cooperation of local governments and medical practitioners. We will continue to support municipalities to ensure all the people can receive vaccination at the earliest possible time.

 (On the passage of the digital transformation-related bills)

The bills on digital transformation passed today. I believe that this will be a great leap forward toward the digitalization of Japan, which has been a concern for many years. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone concerned for their efforts. We would like to make thorough preparations for the establishment of the agency in charge of digital transformation on September 1. The penetration rate of the My Number Card stands at 40 percent. We will incorporate the functions of the health insurance card and the driver’s license. We intend to create a society where everyone can benefit from digitalization.