Some people in Japan expressed anxiety Tuesday about the economic and social impact of the government's one-month extension of a coronavirus state of emergency for Tokyo and nine other prefectures.
In the Marunouchi business district in Tokyo, Hiroshi Aso, 47, said, "As the number of infections has not decreased so much, the extension seems unavoidable."
However, Aso, who was on his way to work before the government extended the state of emergency to March 7, said he did not feel that the remote working adopted by his company was "too much of a hassle."
Osamu Kondo, a 53-year-old taxi driver, said the extension "cannot be helped," but added he felt a hit to his hip pocket as taxis are competing for fewer and fewer passengers.
Kondo, who was interviewed while in a taxi rank in front of JR Tokyo Station, said he had been working days rather than nights as many eateries are closing at 8 p.m., in line with a Tokyo metropolitan government request made when the state of emergency was reinstated in January.
Under the state of emergency, the government has also urged people to refrain from unnecessary outings.
In Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Keiko Tanaka, 57, who works at an eatery, complained that the amount of compensation paid to businesses complying with closure requests was insufficient.
A 20-year-old university student also in the western Japan city said his part-time working hours had been reduced and he hopes the emergency "will be lifted (by the government) after assessing the situation."
Meanwhile, Tochigi Prefecture, north of the capital, saw the emergency declaration lifted as the coronavirus situation has significantly improved.
In Tochigi's capital Utsunomiya, Masataka Inoue, 48, who works at a clothing retailer, said more people had been coming to the store since last weekend following news reports that the state of emergency would be lifted in the prefecture.
"While I'm expecting the return of customers who had avoided shopping, I'm also worried that infections will increase again if people are less careful (in taking anti-virus steps)," Inoue said.
Japanese business leaders, meanwhile, largely expressed understanding for the government's decision, given the current severe strain on the health care system.
"It is necessary for all people and business operators to cooperate as one" to ride out the pandemic, Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, said in a statement.
Nakanishi also requested that the government sufficiently address the impact of the extended measure on people's daily lives and the Japanese economy.
Kengo Sakurada, head of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, told reporters the government's decision could have a negative impact but was "inevitable."
"However, I believe the whole of Japan will not suffer catastrophic damage," he said, citing the relatively small number of corporate bankruptcies last year.
Related coverage:
Japan to extend virus emergency to March 7 as hospitals strained
Tokyo's daily coronavirus cases drop to 393, total tops 100,000
Tokyo Jan. virus cases near 40,000, double from previous monthly high
