TOKYO, Jan 9 (Reuters): Osaka and its surrounding prefectures asked Japan to expand a state of emergency to the western cities in an effort to contain the latest Covid-19 outbreak, while Tokyo's new daily infections keep above 2,000 cases on Saturday.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the country's economy minister, told media the situation in the western cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo was severe and the declaration of a wider state of emergency was being considered after a request from the cities' governors.
Japan declared a limited state of emergency in Tokyo and three prefectures neighbouring the capital on Thursday (Jan 7) to stem a surge in Covid-19 infections, resisting calls from some medics for wider curbs due to the economic damage they would cause.
Tokyo reported 2,268 new daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the public broadcaster NHK, the third straight day above 2,000.
It wasl also reported that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had conceded that the measures that took effect in the capital region on Friday might also be needed in other parts of the country as infections spread.
The government has resisted calls from some experts for wider curbs beyond those imposed in Tokyo because of the economic pain they would cause.
Analysts and officials have warned the limited, one-month state of emergency targeting Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures could lead to a contraction in economic growth for the current quarter.
"There's no doubt it will affect January-March growth," Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters, when asked about the economic impact.
Another contraction in April-June, though considered unlikely for now, could become a reality if broader and longer curbs become necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19, some analysts say.
That would push Japan into another recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, following one in the first half of last year.
Osaka, the country's second-largest urban area, already had plans to ask the government to impose a state of emergency there, its governor said on Friday. Kyoto and Hyogo - two other prefectures in western Japan - are expected to make the same request, media reported.
"We'll work closely with the regions and respond as needed," Suga told reporters earlier when asked about the expected requests from the prefectures.
Many policymakers say the hit to growth this time will not be as severe as last year's state of emergency, which hurt retailers nationwide and forced many manufacturers to suspend production.
Robust overseas demand and the boost to growth from massive government stimulus will offset some of the pain, analysts say. - Reuters
Yasutoshi Nishimura, the country's economy minister, told media the situation in the western cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo was severe and the declaration of a wider state of emergency was being considered after a request from the cities' governors.
Japan declared a limited state of emergency in Tokyo and three prefectures neighbouring the capital on Thursday (Jan 7) to stem a surge in Covid-19 infections, resisting calls from some medics for wider curbs due to the economic damage they would cause.
Tokyo reported 2,268 new daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the public broadcaster NHK, the third straight day above 2,000.
It wasl also reported that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had conceded that the measures that took effect in the capital region on Friday might also be needed in other parts of the country as infections spread.
The government has resisted calls from some experts for wider curbs beyond those imposed in Tokyo because of the economic pain they would cause.
Analysts and officials have warned the limited, one-month state of emergency targeting Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures could lead to a contraction in economic growth for the current quarter.
"There's no doubt it will affect January-March growth," Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters, when asked about the economic impact.
Another contraction in April-June, though considered unlikely for now, could become a reality if broader and longer curbs become necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19, some analysts say.
That would push Japan into another recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, following one in the first half of last year.
Osaka, the country's second-largest urban area, already had plans to ask the government to impose a state of emergency there, its governor said on Friday. Kyoto and Hyogo - two other prefectures in western Japan - are expected to make the same request, media reported.
"We'll work closely with the regions and respond as needed," Suga told reporters earlier when asked about the expected requests from the prefectures.
Many policymakers say the hit to growth this time will not be as severe as last year's state of emergency, which hurt retailers nationwide and forced many manufacturers to suspend production.
Robust overseas demand and the boost to growth from massive government stimulus will offset some of the pain, analysts say. - Reuters
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