Photo/Illutration Pedestrians in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward watch a large screen showing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at a news conference after he declared a state of emergency on Jan. 7. (The Asahi Shimbun)

When nations around the world began scrambling to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus early last spring, Peru's government ordered all citizens to stay at home on Sundays.

For the rest of the week, only men were allowed to go out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while only women were permitted to do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

In a village in Indonesia, police officers, dressed up as traditional ghosts, patrolled the neighborhood and urged anyone on the streets to return home.

This winter, governments around the globe are again struggling desperately to limit personal contact.

In Europe, where COVID-19 cases are exploding, cities are going into lockdown, one after another. Nighttime curfews are back, food service operations are being banned and offenders are being fined.

But businesses that remain closed are being compensated generously, and the impression I get is that the "carrot" has become bigger and the "stick" more ruthless.

On Jan. 7, a state of emergency was declared for Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures for the second time in 10 months. But unlike last spring, there are no school closures, and the government is focusing on the food service industry.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga promised to "improve the situation in one month, without fail."

But exactly what "improvement" can be expected from asking restaurants and bars to close at 8 p.m.? And are they being compensated adequately?

Also, I really don't see the point of publicly disclosing the names of businesses that fail to comply with the request to close early. Above all, I seriously doubt that just one month of "patience" will make this coming spring any safer.

With German cities remaining in strict lockdown, Chancellor Angela Merkel stated in her New Year's address to the effect that, aside from the vaccines, the most effective COVID-19 response is within everyone's reach--namely, in following the rules.

The leader's heartfelt plea to her people to bear the burden and practice restraint resonated deeply with the audience.

Wherever we are on this Earth, this crisis cannot be overcome unless we try to limit human contact. As a citizen and an individual, each of us must start by doing whatever we can.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 8

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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