Emergency ending for 6 prefectures in Japan
The declaration is ending in Osaka, Aichi, and 4 other prefectures.
Many shops and restaurants were still closed in Osaka on Saturday. A man said the number of new cases is now relatively low so he agrees that it's probably time to end the state of emergency.
Governors from the western region of Kansai, including Osaka, held a meeting on Saturday. They're calling on people to keep taking steps against the virus, especially as the country enters a period busy with celebrations and festive events.
The state of emergency will stay in place for another week in Tokyo and 3 surrounding prefectures.
Governors from about 40 prefectures met online to discuss the pandemic.
Governor Ono Motohiro of Saitama, where the measure will remain in place, said there had been a slowdown in the rate of decline of new cases. He added that concern persists over the high rate of hospital bed occupancies and the spread of variants.
Governor Nisaka Yoshinobu of Wakayama warned that if local governments rely solely on people behaving in a cautious and restrained manner, it's certain there will be another spike in cases.
The governors are proposing that central government officials continue with strong measures even after the state of emergency finishes. They also want support for the economy and employment.
Officials confirmed about 1,200 new cases across Japan on Saturday, and over 40 deaths. The total number of infections is now more than 430,000.
- NHK
政府は26日、大阪、京都、兵庫、愛知、岐阜、福岡の6府県について、来月7日の期限を待たず、今月末で緊急事態宣言を解除することを決めました。ただ、宣言が解除されても、飲食店への時短要請は継続されます。政府が感染の再拡大を警戒しているからです。
時短要請の緩和は、各府県の判断で段階的に行われます。福岡では営業時間を1時間延ばす形で、午後9時までの時短要請に変わりました。時短要請に応じた店に支払われる協力金は、これまでの6万円から、最大4万円に減額されます。
やぶれ居酒屋『まさかど』本店・榊利枝さん：「早く解除してうれしいような、でも心配なような。1時間でも長くなれば、いまよりお客さまに、ゆっくりしてもらえるのはいいけど、それでいいのかな。わずかな前倒しで大きな損害が、後に来るということがないか心配」
愛知と岐阜の病床使用率はともに30％以下にまで下がりました。しかし、愛知県豊明市の病院では、重症患者がなかなか退院できず、半分近くのベッドが埋まっているといいます。
藤田医科大学病院・岩田充永院長：「歓送迎会の時期になると、また感染者が増えてしまうのではないかと私たちも覚悟はしている。解除自体は始めたからには終わりがないといけない。医療の立場としても妥当だと思う」
愛知県・大村知事：「緊急事態宣言は解除するが、より感染者、入院患者を下がり切らせるためにも、すべての飲食店での時短要請をお願いしたい」
愛知での新たな時短要請は3月1日からの2週間。午後9時までの時短営業に応じると、協力金4万円が支払われます。
大阪では、感染経路のわからない人の割合が増えています。
大阪府・吉村知事：「大切なことは、ここからリバウンドをさせないこと。徐々に解除をして、そろりそろりと社会経済活動、そして、感染対策を両立させていくと、非常に難しいかじ取り」
午後9時までの時短要請は、3月1日からの3週間。対象は、大阪市内の飲食店に絞ります。
宣言解除が決まった地域では、イベントの制限も緩和されます。これまでは定員の50％以下か、5000人以下のうち、少ない方が上限でしたが、来月8日から最大1万人に引き上げられます。GoToトラベルの再開は、当面、先送りとなりそうです。
今回の緊急事態宣言の解除。実は、すんなりとはいかなかったようです。26日昼過ぎに始まった諮問委員会は、予定時間を1時間以上、オーバーしました。
諮問委員会・尾身会長：「強い懸念を示した人たちが、かなりたくさんいる。私自身も懸念を示した。その人たちの最も共通なのは、新しい変異株ということが出てきたので、もう少し慎重にした方が良いのではないかと」
菅総理は、こうした専門家の懸念について問われました。
菅総理：「基準を決めているわけで、基準はクリアしているわけだから、感染拡大しないように、私も全力で取り組んでいく」
今回、首都圏1都3県の解除は見送られました。
諮問委員会・尾身茂会長：「東京中心とした首都圏は、ほかの地域より慎重にやる必要がある。人々の匿名性で、クラスターが追いにくい状況がある。
- ANNnewsCH
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