The coronavirus state of emergency that had been issued in 19 Japanese prefectures, including Tokyo, will be lifted at the end of this month. The quasi-state of emergency declared in eight prefectures will also be lifted at the same time.
It will be the first time since April -- approximately six months -- without an emergency or quasi-emergency declaration in effect somewhere in Japan. Nearly 60% of all citizens have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Considering the impact of those vaccinations, the Japanese government is entering a new phase of its infection countermeasures.
The number of newly infected people has been on a downward trend, and the percentage of hospital beds in use is below 50%, which is one benchmark for lifting the state of emergency declaration. This led to the government's decision.
The government has said that for the time being, it will continue to request that dining establishments in areas where states of emergency have just been lifted to keep operating on shorter business hours. But some members of the government's coronavirus subcommittee had objected to the government's decision not to implement any quasi-state of emergency measures.
In the latest "fifth wave" of coronavirus infections, the number of seriously ill COVID-19 patients nationwide far exceeded those in past wave peaks. In Tokyo, the healthcare system became extremely strained at one point, and people convalescing at home died one after another.
Due to the government's optimistic outlook that the number of severely ill people could be curbed as long as vaccinations of older adults progressed, the expansion of the healthcare system was delayed. The government bears a heavy responsibility for this.
We must also not forget that the government sent a contradictory message to the public by demanding that citizens exercise self-restraint in their everyday lives, while going through with hosting the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Experts recognize the effectiveness of the vaccine, but are warning the public to be wary of a sixth infection wave this winter. Medical institutions and public health centers must be expanded in preparation for this. Backup staff for public health centers and collaboration between public health centers and medical facilities also need to be reinforced, so that a case surge does not lead to the health centers getting bogged down trying to find hospitals for infected people, which could lead to people not getting the treatment they need.
Setting up a system to efficiently administer drugs to prevent infected patients from developing severe symptoms, as well as securing temporary beds, is also indispensable. It is also important to develop a mechanism that allows for the dispatch of medical staff, depending on the situation.
The government is aiming to finish fully vaccinating all those wanting the shots by the beginning of November. With that in mind, even if the situation changes such that another state of emergency is declared, it does not plan to institute the strict limitations on behavior that have been implemented in the past.
The government says that, on condition that people show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result, it will relax the restrictions on people dining together, and the number of people who can attend large events. It also says that it will not ask the public to avoid crossing prefectural borders when traveling or making visits to their hometown. The plan is also to approve the broad use of businesses such as eateries and travel agencies.
However, there are many challenges to overcome related to these loosened restrictions.
First, coronavirus vaccines are not foolproof. They reduce the rate at which people develop severe symptoms or die from COVID-19, but they cannot completely protect people from getting infected. In places such as the U.K. and Singapore, where vaccinations were rolled out relatively early, relaxed restrictions on behavior have resulted in an infection resurgence.
There are also concerns that requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result may lead to exclusion or discrimination. The prospect of services being denied to people who have neither document is worrisome. We must avoid situations where people are pressured by their workplace to be vaccinated. Whether one has been vaccinated or not is private. There needs to be a mechanism in place to prevent such information from leaking, if it is digitized.
Some people are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons. To obtain proof of a negative test result, one must pay for the coronavirus test, and the result does not stay valid for very long. It is necessary to consider these factors.
How proof of vaccination and negative test results are used must be thoroughly deliberated in the Diet. The government must respect the views of experts to try to strike a balance with infection prevention.
The government says that it will test its relaxed measures and ease restrictions in stages. But it has also brought up tourism revival measures as a topic of deliberation. It must have its "Go To Travel" tourism promotion campaign in mind, but the government must not rush into things. If the state of infections deteriorates once again, it is only natural for the government to promptly tighten regulations.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Sept. 28 about his own efforts, "I have received criticisms, but the effects are now obvious, and the light at the end of the crisis is increasing in brilliance day by day." Some observers say that he was aiming to lift all state of emergency and quasi-state of emergency declarations during his tenure as prime minister.
Following the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s presidential election today, we will have a new prime minister by early next week. We hope that the new administration will investigate the measures that have been taken against COVID-19 thus far, and reveal a clear strategy for a life alongside the coronavirus.
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