THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
April 6, 2020 at 15:02 JST
The anti-influenza drug Avigan, generally known as favipiravir (Provided by Fujifilm Corp.)
Emergency economic measures to deal with the new coronavirus epidemic include plans to stockpile the anti-influenza drug Avigan for 2 million patients.
Avigan, which is viewed as a possible cure for coronavirus infection, is manufactured by a group company of Fujifilm Corp.
Other measures planned by the government and the ruling party include increasing the child allowance with a one-time increase of 10,000 yen ($91.74) per child to support families with small children.
The steps compiled April 5 will be announced April 7 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe under a package of measures to deal with the rapidly spreading health crisis.
The government explained the draft of the measures to senior officials of the policy research councils of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and junior coalition partner Komeito on April 5.
In addition, 1 trillion yen will be earmarked as reserve funds to cover emergency expenditures for the anti-coronavirus measures.
A cash payment of 300,000 yen for households facing financial hardship due to the epidemic will be offered if eligible applicants file a request.
It will target households whose annual income is expected to fall to levels that will exempt them from payments of local resident taxes.
Additionally, the government plans to provide the 300,000 yen cash payment to households whose income decreased by half. However, households whose income is above a certain amount will not be eligible.
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