Photo/Illutration Empty streets in Tokyo's ritzy Ginza district on May 15 (Shiro Nishihata)

New cases of COVID-19 infection must drop to less than 20 a day on average on a weekly basis before the Tokyo metropolitan government will consider easing restrictions on businesses to tackle the health scare.

As such, the restrictions will remain intact in the capital at least until the end of May, regardless of the central government's decision on lifting the state of emergency.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on May 15 announced the outline of a “road map” for getting the capital's economy operating at pre-crisis levels.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has suggested the nationwide state of emergency over the deadly virus pandemic could be lifted as early as May 21, instead of the end of the month.

But Koike remains determined to stick with the original deadline in terms of restrictions to prevent a second wave of infections and wait to implement the road map in June or thereafter.

"Tokyo is still in the midst of a pandemic crisis," Koike stated at a news conference, urging residents to stay home and businesses to remain closed.

Tokyo officials said seven factors must be weighed before a decision is made to partially lift requests for businesses to remain closed and residents to stay home.

They include numbers of newly infected people, the ratio of patients whose sources of infection are not known, weekly increases in COVID-19 cases, the number of patients in severe condition as well as those receiving in-hospital care, the positive rate of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and the number of consultation cases at health institutions.

For example, the ratio of patients whose source of infection cannot be tracked must come down to less than 50 percent, officials said.

In the initial phase of easing restrictions, museums and libraries will be allowed to open. After that, theaters with no history of infection cluster incidents that are deemed less likely to be filled to the rafters will be allowed to resume operations.

Restrictions on business hours for restaurants and bars will also be partially eased.

If, in any of the seven factors, the number or ratio exceeds the indication to ease restrictions, the government will issue a “Tokyo Alert” and warn residents that a second wave of infection might be on the horizon.

If the number of new patients jumps to 50 or more per day on average in a week or the ratio of patients with unknown routes of infection hits 50 percent or more, the government will again ask people to refrain from going out and request businesses to shut down.

The government will shore up the medical system to prepare for a possible second wave by expanding outpatient units for COVID-19 patients and providing funds for centers to conduct PCR tests.

“It is essential for residents in Tokyo, as well as the local and national economy, that we maintain our efforts to prevent the spread of the virus,” Koike said earlier in the day. “I want people to share the sense of awareness that we are still in a tough situation.” 

Related News