To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the government approved a bill to revise a special measures law on new types of influenza at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday morning.
If it is feared the new coronavirus is spreading rapidly after the bill comes into effect, the prime minister will be able to declare a state of emergency and prefectural governors will be able to order the suspension of schools and large-scale facilities.
The bill will be enacted on Friday and will come into effect on Saturday.
The main pillar of the bill is to add the new coronavirus to the list of the diseases covered by the law, which allows special measures to be in place for up to two years.
Under the revised law, the prime minister will be able to declare a state of emergency after hearing the opinions of experts and specifying the area and the period of time in which there is an emergency.
Once a state of emergency is declared, the relevant prefectural governors will be able to take the following steps: Request self-restraint over unnecessary and nonurgent outings; request and instruct that the use of schools, movie theaters, sports facilities and other premises be suspended; use land or buildings without the owner's consent when temporary medical facilities need to be established; and order the compulsory expropriation of drugs and relevant items.
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