Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took a more apologetic tone in his March 14 news conference and said it was too early to give a time frame on when the novel coronavirus outbreak would be brought under control.

Abe’s apologies were directed mainly at students who saw their schools shut down and ceremonies and sports events canceled upon his request.

However, he said he intended to go ahead with the Tokyo Summer Olympics and stressed that the current situation in the country was not bad enough to declare a state of emergency under a revised special measures legislation passed by the Diet on March 13.

“The situation at present is not one which calls for declaring a state of emergency,” Abe said. “But if the need does arise, I will go ahead with such a declaration while following the appropriate procedures.”

He pointed out that the number of coronavirus cases per 10,000 people in Japan was only 0.06, a figure much lower than those in China, South Korea and Italy.

When asked what conditions would require an emergency declaration, Abe said it was difficult to give a specific numerical figure.

He said he would consult with experts on infectious diseases before any such decision. He also promised to hold another news conference to explain to the public why he was making a declaration, which could severely limit their activities.

The news conference was Abe’s first since Feb. 29, two days after he asked all schools in Japan to close as a precaution against the new coronavirus.

That sudden request caught many parents and educators off-guard.

With the graduation season fast approaching, Abe used the latest news conference to apologize to students who are being forced to remain at home away from their classmates and friends.

“I deeply regret having had to ask schools to close at a time that is very important for creating what might be the last memories of school,” Abe said.

He asked school officials to consider ways of safely holding graduation ceremonies.

The prime minister also said his heart went out to the students who cannot compete in the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament at Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

Organizers decided to cancel the popular event to prevent the spread of the virus.

“I can very easily imagine how much frustration must be felt by the students who endured harsh daily practices,” he said.

The change in Abe’s tone between his two news conferences may reflect complaints raised by even members of his own ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

“The role being asked of the prime minister now is to calm the public,” a younger LDP lawmaker said. “But he had acted like a populist by trying to aggressively publicize the various measures he was having implemented.”

Ruling coalition lawmakers have been asked by their supporters about whether school graduation ceremonies would be held. Questions have also been raised in the Diet about how to help students who may be unable to attend the ceremonies.

Such concerns may have led to his cautious approach about declaring a state of emergency.

Abe said the legal revision made last week giving him the power to declare a state of emergency was only intended as a measure just in case the situation turns much graver.

With so many huge sporting and cultural events being suspended or canceled, questions have arisen on whether Tokyo will be able to host the Olympics in the summer.

“We would like to go ahead as planned after successfully overcoming a further spread of infections,” Abe said of the Games.

He added that he would take part in the ceremony marking the start of the Olympic torch relay scheduled for Fukushima Prefecture on March 26.

Abe did not explain whether schools would be allowed to open in April for the new school year, saying a decision would be made after listening to the views of experts.

The government is also compiling a list of support measures to help businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak. But Abe did not go into details on when such a package would be announced.

(This article was compiled from reports by Yuki Nikaido, Natsuki Okamura and Ryo Aibara.)