Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

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REPORTER: […] With a view to holding the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games smoothly next year, could you tell us how the Government intends to strengthen cooperation with Ms. KOIKE Yuriko, Governor of Tokyo? Also, today you visited the office of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, where you met with Mr. MORI Yoshiro, President of the Organising Committee. Could you tell us what discussions you had with him? Also, what is the Government’s policy towards a safe and secure Games?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Firstly, given the necessity to comprehensively review and coordinate novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) measures to respond to a wide range of challenges, including immigration, screening and medical structures, and the operation of facilities, a meeting among the national government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee is to be held in the coming days. Through the discussions at this meeting, the Government intends to advance its preparations, closely collaborating with the host city, Tokyo, and the main organizer of the Games, the Organising Committee, in order to realize a safe and secure environment for athletes and spectators alike. This was what I talked about with President Mori.

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REPORTER: I have a question about COVID-19 countermeasures. The package of measures announced recently includes a review of mandates and roles of the national government, prefectural governments, and municipalities that establish public health centers. Could you tell us by when this review is to be done and what specifically will be considered?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In terms of the Government’s response, we have decided to conduct a thorough review once the situation has settled. At the same time, with regard to our ongoing responses, if there are any areas that require improvement, the Government will consider making such improvements as necessary, while listening to the views of the relevant stakeholders.

REPORTER: Could you tell us whether the Government has any specific items in mind for its review of mandates and roles?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We would like to review in detail how commanding functions can be strengthened.

REPORTER: You have been emphasizing balancing COVID-19 countermeasures and economic activities as one of the challenges for the current administration. While I fully understand that it will be extremely difficult to bring the number of infections down to zero, could you share with us a specific image for how the Government intends to respond to infections, and to what kind of level the Government aims to revamp the currently slumped economy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have said regularly, unfortunately it will take time to bring the risk of infection down to zero. Based on that, without totally shutting down all socio-economic activities, we will work to control the risk of infections by avoiding the three Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact settings) and thoroughly implementing basic preventive measures, as well as employing focused infection countermeasures for places where people gather, such as clubs, restaurants and bars, and for medical institutions and nursing facilities. Based on the premise that those infection countermeasures are firmly in place, we will extend support to the many industries that have been impacted by COVID-19, such as the “Go To Travel Campaign” for the tourism industry. By doing so, we will find a way to overcome the current situation and achieve economic growth once again.