Japan PM Abe to declare state of emergency over virus: official english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 14 minutes ago - 09:06 | All, Japan, CoronavirusPrime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak in Japan, a government official said Monday, as a recent surge in infections sweeps Tokyo and other major cities.
An emergency declaration, the first of its kind in Japan, would restrict individual rights, allowing prefectural governors to call for specific action to prevent the spread of the virus.
Abe does not have the freedom to declare a state of emergency at his own discretion.
He needs to seek input from an advisory panel comprising experts in medicine and public health who determine whether the situation calls for an emergency declaration.
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