This is the state of emergency!

It is time for hard but important decisions. Japan is set to declare a month-long state of emergency that will cover Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures, in response to the rising tally of coronavirus infections in the country. The declaration will also cover Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures. Declaring a state of emergency won’t lead to a lockdown, but will empower prefectural governors to urge residents to abide by stronger social-distancing measures and to stay at home, except for essential tasks. Governors will also be authorised to ask schools, businesses and other public facilities to temporarily close. However, there will be no legal penalties for those who do not obey these requests by authorities.

Similar measures were undertaken in Jakarta. The closures of tourist destinations and entertainment venues have been extended for an additional two weeks. Jakarta is by far the most virulent area in Indonesia, accounting for most infections and deaths.

If not closing, then ban. Hong Kong has extended its travel ban indefinitely for non-Hong Kong residents and transit passengers. It is continuing the suspension of all transit flights ‘until further notice’ after a surge in coronavirus cases in recent days.

Hong Kong now has 915 cases of Covid-19, which has doubled in just over a week.

All non-residents from overseas countries are banned from entering Hong Kong, while non-Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China, Macau or Taiwan may not enter if they have visited any overseas countries within the past two weeks.

Also the Kenyan government announced on Sunday that it would extend the ban on all international flights by 30 days as the country intensified the fight against spread the virus.

However, not everyone is closing. Yesterday 683 people arrived in Hawaii. The airports in the State of Hawaii are still open for leisure travelers.

MMP
photo: Naoki Ogura/Reuters