Japan govt. to step up efforts to curb infections -NHK WORLD -JAPAN 39 min ago
Japan's central government plans to work more closely with local governments to curb the spread of the coronavvirus.
The government's coronavirus advisory panel compiled a list of emergency proposals on Thursday, when the country confirmed a record daily infection total foor the second consecutive day.
The panel calls for intensifying anti-infection measures over the two weeks through August 26, which includes the annual summer holiday period.
The government plans to work with local authorities to improve medical support for coronavirus patients and reduce the number of visitors to malls and basement-level food sections in department stores. These places are considered high-risk sites for infection.
The government is also liely to step up calls for people to refrain from nonessential outings and cancel or postpone travel plans.
Some prefectural governments have asked the central government to include their areas in the current state of emergency.
The central government will decide whether to expand the declaration after studying regional infection situations and occupancy rates for hospital beds set aside for COVID-19 patients.
The minister in charge of the coronavirus response, Nishimura Yasutoshi, said he shares the panel's sense of crisis regarding the looming situation in which hospitals will be unable to save lives they could save under normal circumstances.
He added that he takes the panel's proposals to reduce person-to person contact and the movement of people seriously.
