The Tokyo metropolitan government will offer 500,000 yen worth of financial aid to businesses -- including nightclubs, pachinko parlors and live music venues -- that meet the metropolitan government's shutdown request, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said at a press conference Friday.
Earlier that day, the metropolitan government held its task force meeting to combat the new coronavirus and decided to issue the shutdown requests to a wide range of businesses in the entire Tokyo area as part of efforts to stem the spread of infection. The closure request will be continued through May 6.
Tokyo plans to pay 500,000 yen to business operators across the board as cooperation money, and 1 million yen for operators that have multiple outlets and offices. The payment is expected to be made around the middle of May.
The list of business types to temporarily close also includes bars, karaoke rooms, internet cafes, movie theater, playhouses and exhibitions, as well as sports facilities including gyms.
Meanwhile, Tokyo decided to allow barbers and hair salons to operate, and requested restaurants and izakaya pubs to open during limited hours between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. and serve alcohol only until 7 p.m.
Tokyo is expected to spend 100 billion yen in total on payments to more than 100,000 business operators that close their operations at the metropolitan government's request.
The closure will be in effect from Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, Koike told reporters: "The number of [newly] infected people in Tokyo has reached a record high [at 181] and many Tokyo residents feel uneasy. I'd like to seek cooperation from businesses and shop operators that intend to do their best, and want them to respond to the request as soon as possible."
The request will be conducted based on the revised law on special measures to tackle new types of influenza. But for hotels, universities, commercial facilities and museums with a total floor space of 1,000 square meters or less, Tokyo will seek their cooperation independently but not based on the special measures law.
As for small commercial facilities with a floor space of 100 square meters or less, Tokyo will allow them to continue operations on condition that they carry out appropriate measures to prevent infection.
According to the draft compiled by the metropolitan government Monday, it planned to ask department stores, barbers and hair salons to shut down.
The central government, however, demanded that Tokyo exclude these businesses from the list of closure requests, and asked it to postpone the day it would request the closure by about two weeks.
As the central and metropolitan governments were unable to reach a consensus, Koike negotiated personally with Nishimura on Thursday night. After Koike made a strong plea to Nishimura saying it is inevitable to issue closure requests promptly, he accepted Tokyo's policy. Subsequently, the central and metropolitan governments agreed in principle on the list of businesses of which Tokyo would request closure, sources said.
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