By RYUTARO ABE/ Staff Writer
July 20, 2020 at 14:55 JST
Visitors fill the streets of the renowned Kabukicho red-light district in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward on July 2, when new cases with the novel coronavirus topped 100. (Takuya Isayama)
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga called on police to rigorously conduct onsite inspections of night clubs and similar establishments and ensure their operators take thorough precautions against the new coronavirus.
The government’s most senior spokesman made the request on July 19 during a news show on measures to mitigate the spread of the virus broadcast by Fuji Television Network Inc.
“Police can conduct onsite inspections under the law on control and improvement of amusement and entertainment business and they need to take a bold step,” Suga said, noting recent cluster infections in cabaret clubs, host clubs and other establishments in Tokyo and elsewhere.
He said that though all kinds of adult entertainment venues have been lumped together under the term “nightlife districts,” where infections have occurred, not all such establishments were a cause for concern.
But Suga stressed the need to do more with respect to cabaret clubs, host clubs and other venues, including inspections and "closing loopholes" that could lead to infections.
Suga’s remarks envision that police should aggressively check such establishments to determine how they are operating under the law and call on operators during the inspections to ensure necessary precautions are being taken against COVID-19, according to government officials.
During the TV program, Suga also agreed with calls to revise the special measures law to give the prime minister and the government greater authority to deal directly with the coronavirus outbreak.
He indicated that businesses that agree to shut down to meet authorities’ closure requests would receive financial compensation.
Under the current special measures law, it is not mandatory for the government to provide financial support to businesses that comply with the closure requests.
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