In the wake of the declaration of a state of emergency, the Tokyo metropolitan government has announced a series of plans, such as giving a list of businesses requested to shutdown as well to offer a financial aid to businesses on the list, although six other prefectures affected by the declaration are dealing with the issue on their own.
The Kanagawa prefectural government plans to apply the same standards as Tokyo and offers aids for businesses requested to be shut down.
"We prioritized what's important for the people in the prefecture," said Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa at a press conference Friday. "It's my political responsibility."
The Saitama prefectural government takes almost the same step as Tokyo and will request the suspension of operations from Monday to May 6.
"The metropolitan area should act as one," Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono said. As for compensations for businesses affected, Ono said, "It's the central government's responsibility."
The Osaka prefectural government announced the types of industries subject to the request if the similar step was taken in the prefecture. The government will hold a meeting of its task force early next week to make a final decision on whether to implement the measure, whose context is the same as Tokyo's.
"Finances in Osaka and Tokyo are quite different. It'll be difficult to provide support by the prefecture alone," Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said at a press conference.
If Osaka decides to implement the measure, Hyogo Gov. Toshizo Ido said, "We will have to consider following the same tone [as Osaka] because there is a lot of people's interaction with Osaka." As for a financial aid, the governor said it is "difficult for the prefecture to shoulder entirely from scratch."
Meanwhile, Fukuoka Gov. Hiroshi Ogawa expressed his intention to decide whether to request businesses concerned to shut down by Monday at earliest.
"We will examine the effect of the government's request to the public to stay home, and the situation of infections," he said.
As for a financial aid, Ogawa said the prefecture would think what it can do.
Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita is reluctant to request shutdowns nor to offer a financial aid, as telling reporters: "Tokyo has its own circumstances. The situation in Chiba Prefecture, including its fiscal situation, cannot be the same. We will see the effect of [the existing measures] and take the next action with a sense of speed."
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