No.113 Third State of Emergency Declaration

On April 23, 2021, the government decided to issue a state of emergency for the four prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo, which was implemented from April 25, 2021.

In Tokyo, the first state of emergency was declared for 49 days from April 7, 2020, to May 25, 2020, and the second state of emergency was declared for 73 days from January 8, 2021, to March 21, 2021, making this the third declaration.
This declaration was sudden, and the city discussed the response on Friday, April 23, 2021, but since the details would not be clear until late at night, a part of the web conference was used to hold the city’s response headquarters on Saturday, April 24, 2021, to discuss and decide on the response.

For information regarding the suspension, postponement, or changes to individual facilities and projects, we will communicate through various methods such as posting on the Inagi City Website, distribution via the Inagi City email service, notices at facilities, and individual notifications.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused to citizens, such as the closure of the Comprehensive Gymnasium and the cancellation of general access to the Fureai Forest. However, since the previous state of emergency declaration was lifted on March 21, 2021, not all projects have fully returned to normal operations, and some continue to have shortened hours due to phased relaxation measures, so there are not many significant changes from before the declaration.

During the first state of emergency declaration last year, we implemented measures such as temporary school closures for elementary and junior high schools and requests for reduced attendance at nursery schools and the After-School Childcare Program. However, at this time, we have decided to continue classes and childcare while thoroughly implementing infection prevention measures. In responding to this situation, we are of course adhering to the requests from the government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, while also considering ways to minimize the impact on citizens' lives as much as possible.

The purpose of this emergency declaration is to stop the "flow of people" during the Golden Week by implementing a wide range of requests for business closures. Regarding the duration, there are opinions calling for longer measures and those who do not wish for further prolongation, and Prime Minister Suga has explained that "as a short-term concentrated measure, we will take strong actions to temporarily stop the flow of people."
In Japan, under the current legal system, strict restrictions on personal rights like those in Europe and the United States cannot be implemented, but even so, this measure has become stronger than ever, to the extent that it is referred to as a "mini-lockdown."
What is needed now is to buy time while suppressing the spread of the COVID-19 variants as much as possible, leading to the timing of full-scale vaccination.

To all citizens, although the second long-term state of emergency has finally been lifted, it is regrettable that we have now entered a third state of emergency while still in the process of gradual relaxation measures. It feels as if we are going backward, and I share this disappointment.
I can only hope that by the time you read this column, the state of emergency will have been lifted. I apologize for the various inconveniences caused to our citizens.
We will do our utmost to ensure that citizens can return to living happily and healthily as soon as possible by actively promoting vaccination, and I ask for your understanding and cooperation.