The battle against the new coronavirus will enter a crucial stage. It is essential to remain on guard without relaxing efforts.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike asked the capital's residents to refrain from unnecessary and nonurgent outings on the weekend. The Kanagawa and Chiba prefectural governments, among others, echoed her call, requesting that local residents avoid going out.
The number of infected people in Tokyo topped 200, surpassing Hokkaido, which had previously had the largest number. Notably, the figures have been increasing at a rapid pace in recent days. Koike recognized the current situation as a "critical stage [to avoid] an explosion of infections." It can be said that this indicates a profound sense of crisis.
In Tokyo, there have been few events that have caused clusters of infections and many patients for whom the route of transmission is unknown. During the three consecutive days off last week, a lot of people went out. The number of people returning from overseas is also rising. Undoubtedly, infections have spread beneath the surface.
Compared with the United States and Europe, Japan has controlled the spread of infections to some extent. If it relaxes its vigilance, however, all of the efforts so far may be wasted. It is necessary to slow the pace of increase and prevent the collapse of the medical system.
The new fiscal and academic year will soon begin, and there will be more movement of people due to transfers and enrollments. It is indispensable to strictly ensure Tokyo, which hosts many companies and universities, does not become a center of the virus' spread.
It is undeniable that people have grown weary of self-restraint, as taking measures against the virus is turning into a long-running battle. Some point out that when the government expressed its policy of reopening schools from the start of the new term, it started to create a mood of restrictions being lifted. However, this is the moment when people should stand firm against the situation.
The Tokyo governor also called for working at home on weekdays and staying home at night. It is important to regularly avoid the three conditions in which infection is likely to spread: enclosed space, crowding of people and close-range conversation.
The strict observation of handwashing and practicing coughing etiquette are daily activities that accumulate and have great effect. Each individual should take preventive measures.
It is requested that young people especially behave in a responsible manner. There are not a few cases in which youths in strong physical condition have no symptoms or mild symptoms even if infected. Attention must be paid to the risk of such people unknowingly passing on the virus to elderly people and others if they are often out and about.
After Koike's request for self-restraint, people lined up at supermarkets in various parts of Tokyo to buy food and other items. People should act calmly without panic.
Many people will be at home this weekend. It is hoped that they will spend some time talking with their family or reading books that are difficult to find the time for in daily life.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on March 27, 2020
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