JAPAN PASSES REVISED CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL MEASURES

Japan's parliament on Wednesday enacted laws that will introduce fines for people and businesses that do not comply with restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Kyodo News reported that the passage of bills that revise the coronavirus special measures law and the infectious disease law came just a day after Japan extended a state of emergency over the virus covering Tokyo and other regions by one month to March 7, as hospitals remain under pressure.

While the government had initially sought to imprison COVID-19 sufferers who refuse to be hospitalized, the plan was scrapped after talks between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the latter categorizing such a step as excessive.

Under the revised laws, expected to take effect next week, COVID-19 patients resisting hospitalization can be fined up to 500,000 yen ($4,760) and those who fail to participate in epidemiological surveys by health authorities, up to 300,000 yen.

Restaurants and bars that fail to cooperate with orders to reduce their operating hours can be fined up to 300,000 yen.

The legislation comes after some people left hospitals or refused to be hospitalized, including a man who fled hospital during treatment for his serious COVID-19 symptoms to visit a spa and his office, saying he was worried about his business.

Health minister Norihisa Tamura told a House of Councillors committee dozens of municipalities have reported instances of people refusing to be hospitalized or escaping from care. "We have incorporated penalties to ensure the effectiveness" of antivirus measures, he said.

Currently, people with serious COVID-19 symptoms are hospitalized in principle, while those with mild or no symptoms are allowed to recuperate at designated hotels or at home. At present, prefectural governments can only make requests that antivirus measures be observed without enforcement.

The legislation will also enable the government to declare a situation that fall short of a state of emergency in which special measures can be taken to combat the spread of the virus. The government envisages the designation will be triggered when infections are surging in a situation equivalent to Stage 3, the second-highest on the government's four-level alert system.

Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of Japan's coronavirus response, tried to quell worries that the conditions for the designation could be unclear by telling the upper house committee the government will present objective standards and will decide after listening to expert opinions.

WEEKLY FEATURE : COLORSTEEL'S PRESIDENT BREAKS BARRIERS