The Tokyo metropolitan government is considering expanding the scope of relief money given to restaurants that cooperate with requests to shorten business hours as a countermeasure against the novel coronavirus to include chain stores operated by major companies.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said Monday that she had issued instructions to consider the matter.
During the period of the state of emergency declaration -- Jan. 8 to Feb. 7 -- the metropolitan government has asked restaurants and other establishments throughout Tokyo to close by 8 p.m.
Although the request includes major chain restaurants, the metropolitan government has so far limited cooperation payments to small and mid-sized businesses and sole proprietors, citing reasons such as, "major businesses have the financial strength."
However, in Tokyo's three neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa, chain stores of major firms are also eligible to receive cooperation money. The prolonged coronavirus crisis has severely hit major companies, too, and the metropolitan government has been questioned by a Chinese restaurant chain operator over its "lack of fairness."
On the other hand, according to the metropolitan government, a field survey conducted by metropolitan government officials walking around downtown Tokyo confirmed that about 80% to 90% of restaurants were complying with the request for shorter hours.
Koike told the press, "I would like to ask for one more step of cooperation in order to control [the spread of infections] at all costs."
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