[COVID-19] Declaration of a State of Emergency in response to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (January 13)

Pursuant to Article 32, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response (Act No. 31 of 2012), the government has declared a state of emergency in relation to the novel coronavirus disease since January 7, 2021. It has also decided that the areas subject to measures under the state of emergency are amended as follows:

1. The duration in which measures for the state of emergency shall be implemented

The duration will be from January 8 to February 7, 2021 (from January 14, for Tochigi, Gifu, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka). When it is deemed that the measures for the state of emergency are no longer necessary, the state of emergency shall be lifted expeditiously in accordance with Article 32, Paragraph 5 of the Act on Special Measures for Pandemic Influenza and New Infectious Diseases Preparedness and Response.

2. Areas where measures for the state of emergency shall be implemented

Tochigi, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Gifu, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka

3. Overview of the state of emergency

Regarding the novel coronavirus disease,

・It has been confirmed that, compared to seasonal influenza, patients develop pneumonia with considerably higher ratio; and

・There are many cases in which it is difficult to identify the routes of transmission and the rapid increase of such cases has been confirmed; and, medical systems are being stretched.

Therefore, it has been determined that a situation has emerged that could cause a serious damage to the lives and health of the people and have a great impact the daily lives of the people as well as national economy through the rapid and nationwide spread of infections.