A government advisory panel of experts on measures against novel coronavirus infections on Wednesday announced a set of proposals, including that the government take the initiative in disseminating information on infection risks.
Members of the panel held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, and stressed that the government should decide whether to adopt the experts' advice in implementing policies. They also mentioned the need to listen to the opinions of experts in such various fields as sociology and economics, in order to maintain the balance of social and economic activities on one hand and implementation of measures to combat the virus on the other.
"We've given the impression that the panel itself was making policy decisions," panel chair Takaji Wakita, who also heads the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, said at the press conference.
--Remorse for hasty move
The latest move by the panel reflects its remorse for the way it has been disseminating relevant information "in a hasty manner."
Initially, what the panel was tasked with was to provide the government with "advice from a medical point of view." However, the panel's stance changed shortly after its launch on Feb. 14.
Back then, panel members became increasingly alarmed by predictions of a further spread of infections, feeling that "it might become too late if the panel doesn't act swiftly to inform the government of countermeasures" and began to propose countermeasures, in addition to advice.
At the Feb. 24 meeting, the panel gave a strongly worded warning that the nation was "on the brink" of a further spread of infections "for the next week or two."
Subsequently, it continued to provide information to the public in various forms such as messages from a volunteer-based expert group.
The panel has so far released 10 sets of opinions or proposals, including "10 tips for reducing people-to-people contact by 80%" released on April 22 and "Introduction to a new lifestyle" on May 4.
At Wednesday's press conference, the panel stressed, based on its experience, the importance of clearly explaining to the public not only the risk of infection from a scientific point of view, but also the impact of COVID-19 on people's lives from a social and economic perspective.
"Experts make scientific explanations, while the government makes decisions and applies them to policies. I believe the government should take the initiative in risk communication on the matters it has decided," said Wakita.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
