Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

World

Japanese governors demand state of emergency over COVID

The nation has seen a surge of infections, with a record 1,337 reported on New Year's Eve

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for January 2 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for January 2

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The Japanese capital and three nearby prefectures have asked the national government to declare a state of emergency to curtail the surging spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT TO US TROOPS OVERSEAS GETS UNDERWAY

"In the name of valuing life, we made this plea together," said Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike after meeting for three hours on Saturday with the minister in charge of coronavirus measures, along with the governors of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.

Japan has seen a recent rise in reported cases of COVID-19, especially in urban areas. Tokyo saw a daily record of 1,337 cases on New Year’s Eve.

From left, Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono, Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita, Japan’s Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa meet journalists in Tokyo after Tokyo and three nearby Japanese prefectures asked the national government to declare a "state of emergency" Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. (Muneyuki Tomari/Kyodo News via AP)

From left, Saitama Gov. Motohiro Ono, Chiba Gov. Kensaku Morita, Japan’s Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa meet journalists in Tokyo after Tokyo and three nearby Japanese prefectures asked the national government to declare a "state of emergency" Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. (Muneyuki Tomari/Kyodo News via AP)

Worries are growing about hosting the Olympics, set for July, with 11,000 Olympic athletes set to enter Japan, as well as tens of thousands of officials and media.

"Corona knows no calendar," said Koike, referring to her worries about infections being fueled by New Year's celebrations.

"Hospitals are getting packed, affecting medical care for all."

The minister said both sides agreed the situation was critical, but medical experts will be consulted before action is decided.

Florida confirms first case of new coronavirus strain Video

Japan has never had a lockdown, attempting instead to juggle the need to keep the economy going with health risks. The issued warnings carry no penalties.

The government has also been sending conflicting messages with a campaign to encourage travel with discounts, although that has been discontinued.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has come under criticism over what some see as his mishandling of the pandemic. Japan has had more than 3,500 deaths so far related to the virus.