It is a move to prepare for a crisis amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus. The newly revised law needs to be strictly applied in consideration of the impact on people's lives.
The revised law, originally concerning special measures to counter new strains of influenza, has been enacted. The revised version, based on the original special measures law enacted in 2012, also covers infections caused by the new coronavirus. The period of application will last until the end of January next year.
The law serves as a legal basis for the prime minister to declare a state of emergency and take drastic measures to contain the rapid spread of the virus infection.
In addition to the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, major opposition parties, such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, supported a vote on a bill to revise the law. It is significant that the ruling and opposition parties cooperated in responding to the crisis.
A state of emergency is declared when the situation meets such conditions as a risk of serious damage to the lives and health of the public. The government will consult with an advisory panel of experts on infectious diseases.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has expressed the view that Japan is "not in a situation where a declaration of a state of emergency would be issued immediately."
Many aspects of the new coronavirus, including its infectivity, remain unclear. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must listen to experts' opinions and calmly judge the situation.
A declaration of a state of emergency is highly effective. The prime minister will designate areas and periods subject to the declaration, and the governors of those areas will be given a variety of new authorities.
Work with local govts
The declaration allows the governors to request that people refrain from going out. It is also possible for them to call for restrictions on the use of places such as schools and welfare facilities and issue a directive to do so if facility operators do not comply with the request. In order to set up temporary medical facilities, the governors are also empowered to use land and buildings without the consent of the owners and expropriate drugs and other goods.
If such strong measures are taken for a long time, residents' lives and the economy will be severely damaged. The duration of such measures should be kept as short as possible and extended as necessary.
Under the special measures law, the prime minister will be in charge of coordinating and overseeing the duration and details of the measures. It is important to accurately analyze the changing situation of the virus infection and review countermeasures as appropriate. The central and local governments must make efforts to communicate well and cooperate closely.
Both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors separately adopted a supplementary resolution calling for the prime minister to report to the Diet prior to declaring a state of emergency.
It is appropriate for the government to explain to the Diet the purpose and details of the measures, which have a great impact on people's lives, when it proceeds with them.
The resolution also calls for minimizing restrictions on people's rights and giving full consideration to those who are economically disadvantaged. It is essential for the government to respect the meaning of the law and craft detailed strategies in implementing the measures.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on March 14, 2020.
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