In response to the spread of novel coronavirus infections, the Tokyo metropolitan government intends to offer up to 500,000 yen worth of cooperation money to entertainment-providing host clubs and hostess bars if they shut their shops, sources said.
Aiming to minimize the impact on metropolitan finances that would come with blanket offers of payment, Tokyo plans to make payments on a case-by-case basis to operators who accept the closure request.
The Tokyo metropolitan government, in a soon-to-be announced supplementary budget proposal, plans to include a the maximum payout of 500,000, yen according to the sources.
Since July 1, a total of about 300 people in Tokyo have been infected with the virus at host clubs and hostess bars in the Shinjuku and Ikebukuro nightlife districts. Tokyo has been considering implementing measures as the number accounted for more than 30% of the total of about 820 infected people confirmed as of Wednesday.
Wards and municipalities are to submit an official request for the closures of such clubs and bars, while the metropolitan government will bear the entire amount of the cooperation fees.
Tokyo plans to implement the measure in Toshima Ward, which includes Ikebukuro, ahead of other areas. The ward said it was to provide free PCR testing for about 100 host club employees as early as Thursday.
In addition, Tokyo's Bureau of Social Welfare and Public health will likely upgrade the status of the infectious disease control section to that of a department.
This is part of the plan to establish a Tokyo version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike proposed in her gubernatorial campaign, with the number of staffers expected to increase from the current 30 to about 100. Tokyo also plans to enhance liaison and coordination functions with health centers, hospitals and research institutions, the sources said.
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