January 28, 2020

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira held a press conference in the Diet building on January 27 and called for urgent and precautionary countermeasures against the novel coronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, China.

Asked by the press about what the Japanese government should do to prevent the possible outbreak of pneumonia caused by the new-type of coronavirus in Japan, Koike said, "The government must use all possible means to deal with the matter." He demanded that the government take measures so that quarantines, public health centers, and medical institutions specializing in infectious diseases can quickly enhance their preparedness to care for potential patients. In addition, he pointed out that the government should provide accurate and easy-to-understand information to the public as well as to ordinary hospitals and clinics.

In relation to the government plan to evacuate Japanese nationals from Wuhan, Koike said, "When implementing various precautions and giving medical examinations to those who will return from Wuhan, the government should give full consideration to their human rights."

Noting that Japan has only four Designated Medical Institutions for Specified Infectious Diseases (ten beds) and 55 Designated Medical Institutions for First-Type Infectious Diseases (103 beds), Koike said, "The number of beds for infectious diseases has been decreasing. In case of the rapid spread of infections, the country's medical care system should be improved immediately. At the same time, efforts for a better system should be made with a long-term perspective."

He added, "Also important is providing economic aid to business owners in the tourism industry who will highly likely face a significant decline in the number of Chinese tourists."