The following is excerpted from an interview with Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of economic revitalization and coronavirus measures.
The number of people infected with the coronavirus has been declining since peaking at the end of July. However, the rate of decline in infection cases has been slowing recently, and now we are closely monitoring the number of cases among the elderly, who are more prone to becoming seriously ill.
A state of emergency was declared when the outbreak spread in April, and a wide range of businesses were asked to suspend operations. As a result, the number of infections decreased.
Since July, we have focused on measures to prevent infections at host and hostess bars. We strenuously requested businesses to close or conduct PCR testing if they remain open. Through these efforts, we were able to stave off an increase in the number of infections without having to declare another state of emergency.
We are now working to strengthen prevention measures in entertainment districts. A recent field inspection at the Nakasu nightlife district in Fukuoka found that the number of PCR tests has not increased because testing can be done only in the daytime at sites that are located far away.
We want to utilize vehicles as mobile testing stations so workers and customers can get tested quickly at any time. We need to do this as soon as possible because the winter flu season is approaching and simultaneous spread of the coronavirus and influenza is a cause of concern.
We will also accelerate efforts to revive the economy, which Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has placed at the top of his agenda. It is important to steadily implement the measures funded in the first and second supplementary budgets for fiscal 2020. Stimulus measures will be taken without hesitation while monitoring the infection situation and economic trends in Japan and abroad.
Payment of rent support benefits and employment adjustment subsidies has been delayed in some areas due to the lengthy review process. We are working with the National Governors' Association to hasten the establishment of a system that will enable us to take prompt action.
Regarding a vaccine, one supplier, the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, has suspended clinical trials. However, our policy of aiming to secure enough doses for all citizens by the first half of next year remains unchanged. We will confirm safety and efficacy, and proceed with inoculation after gaining the full understanding of the public.
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