Japan’s cabinet approved draft laws totoughen coronavirus restrictions on Friday, a move that could threaten rule-breakers with fines and prison sentences for the first time since theoutbreak began, reports AFP.
With just six months until the virus-postponed Tokyo Olympics are due tobegin, the capital and other regions are currently under a state of emergencyin an attempt to quell a record spike in Covid-19 infections.
But unlike strict lockdowns seen elsewhere in the world, the measure has nomeans of enforcement — with people urged rather than ordered to stay home, and no fines for businesses who ignore requests to close early.
While some observers have praised Japan’s soft approach, which tries tobalance infection control with economic impact, recent surveys show approvalratings for Prime Minister YoshihideSuga’s government have plummeted overits handling of the latest wave.
The new laws would allow authorities to punish and even imprison people forup to a year if they test positive but refuse hospitalisation.
They would also penalise bars and restaurants that continue evening servicewhen instructed not to with fines of up to 500,000 yen ($4,800).
Suga said his cabinet had given the green light to the draft bills andurged lawmakers to “swiftly” debate and revise them.
The bills are expected to pass parliament next week, but reports said theopposition will push for an amendment to the section on forced hospitalisation following criticism that it impinges on civil liberties.
Despite the recent spike, Japan has seen a comparatively small Covid-19outbreak, with around 4,700 deaths overall.
But doctors warn hospitals are being overwhelmed in the hardest-hit areas,partly because private hospitals can refuse to accept coronavirus patients.
The draft laws would allow local governments to name and shame medicalfacilities that flout requests to admit Covid-19 patients.
