April 24, 2021

The Suga government has declared the third state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo prefectures, lasting 17 days until May 11 in order to curb the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases in western Japan and Tokyo.

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Tamura Tomoko (Upper House) held a press conference in the Diet building on April 23 and said that the JCP will demand an immediate provision of adequate compensation for affected businesses in proportion to business size.

The government, in its effort to significantly slow the flow of people during the coming early-May holiday season, will make a business-suspension request to eating/drinking establishments serving alcohol as well as to large-scale commercial facilities.

Tamura pointed out that large commercial centers have a lot of shops inside and their related businesses spread to various fields of economy, adding, "However, the government does not disclose how it will compensate affected people/businesses for their losses in earnings."

She went on to say, "It is necessary for the government to again provide emergency benefits for business continuity and subsidies for rent support. The government should also provide benefits to people in need. In order to achieve these measures, the JCP will demand that a supplementary budget be compiled without delay."

Past related article:
> State of emergency lifted despite 1K new COVID positives daily [March 20, 2021]