July 8, 2020

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on a BS news program aired on July 6 said that the central government should immediately hold discussions with the Tokyo metropolitan government on the situation in which the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases topped 100 for consecutive days.

Koike made this remark on the BS-TBS program, “Hodo 1930” during the exchange of views regarding the issue of a spike in COVID-19 cases in Tokyo with other program guests, including Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Kamoshita Ichiro.

Koike pointed out, “Given the fact that the percentage of recent coronavirus cases with undetermined infection routes reached nearly 40%, we need to consider the possibility that widespread community transmission is already underway.” Koike noted that the Tokyo government placed its focus on the point that people in their 20s and 30s who are customers or employees of nightlife host and hostess bars made up most of the recent cases. He said, “Under the current situation, in order to prevent transmissions from young people to the elderly, what the Tokyo government should do is to publish detailed PCR testing data rather than pointing to young adults as the culprits.”

Agreeing with Koike, LDP Kamoshita and a program commentator also appealed for the need to disclose detailed test data.

In addition, Koike referred to the fact that the Tokyo governor showed her intent to consider imposing business suspensions on specific sectors.

Koike said, “I understand the necessity to request certain businesses to suspend their activities. In order to make the request effective, the provision of compensation for loss of earnings is essential. As the national government is wholly responsible for measures to tackle the ongoing pandemic, it should hold discussions with the Tokyo government and provide the necessary financial support.”

Past related article:
> Shii to gov't: Take immediate action to respond to surge in COVID-19 infection in Tokyo [July 3, 2020]