Photo/Illutration Hyogo Governor Toshizo Ido at a news conference on April 15 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Hyogo Prefecture on April 21 officially decided to ask the central government to issue a fresh COVID-19 state of emergency for the prefecture, joining neighboring Osaka Prefecture, which took the move the previous day.

Kyoto Prefecture was also expected to reach the same decision on April 21.

“We will not be able to weather the health crisis unless we take strong measures” as the Golden Week holidays are approaching, Hyogo Governor Toshizo Ido told a task force meeting of prefectural officials. “There are no signs that the new case numbers will abate, and our health care system has been stretched.”

On April 21, Hyogo Prefecture reported a record 563 new COVID-19 cases. The occupancy rate of its 839 hospital beds secured for COVID-19 patients was 82.6 percent as of April 20.

Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki had been cautious about seeking a state of emergency on April 19, when Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed his intention to do so.

But Nishiwaki reversed his stance after Hyogo Prefecture’s decision.

In addition, authorities’ request for restaurants in Kyoto to close at 8 p.m. under pre-emergency measures since April 12 has failed to significantly curb the number of new cases.

Tokyo has also indicated it will request a state of emergency.

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