Photo/Illutration Few people grace this street packed with restaurants and bars in the Nagarekawa district in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward on Dec. 22. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The central government is considering extending financial support to Hiroshima city, which is struggling to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the Cabinet minister spearheading its pandemic-response efforts.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, the state minister in charge of economic revitalization and responding to the coronavirus crisis, said on Jan. 14 that the government is planning to designate Hiroshima city as a special area subject to the same measures as Tokyo and the 10 other prefectures that have been placed under the state of emergency.

The government has been reluctant to declare a nationwide state of emergency and opted for a piecemeal approach instead.

The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases are soaring in Hiroshima city, which is heaping pressure onto its medical system and rapidly filling up hospital capacity.

The special designation is expected to end Feb. 7, the same day the state of emergency is expected to expire for Tokyo and the 10 other prefectures.

“We would like to do it as soon as possible,” Nishimura said.

Once that happens, Hiroshima city would need to take the same measures as prefectures under the state of emergency, such as requesting that local restaurants and bars curtail their business hours and close by 8 p.m. and urging residents to avoid nonessential outings.

The central government would be able to increase financial supports to the city, such as raising the amount of cash handouts from up to 40,000 yen ($385) per day to 60,000 yen for restaurants and bars that cut their business hours. It would also relax some of the requirements for receiving employment subsidies.

Nishimura said he spoke with the Hiroshima prefectural government and confirmed that the virus situation in Hiroshima city has been worsening.

He said that “he will decide on the designation while discussing with the governor,” regardless of whether prefectures or cities made requests or declared their own emergencies.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a Jan. 13 news conference that he would expand support to areas approaching an acute surge in infections if they reinforce their virus countermeasures.

Should the government decide to support Hiroshima city in this unique way, it would become the first municipality in Japan to be designated as a special zone akin to being placed under a state of emergency.

Nishimura said that there are no other municipalities the government is currently in discussions with about this kind of designation.

(This article was written by Tomohiro Yamamoto and Ayako Nakada.)

Related News