Updates on the state of emergency (7 April to 6 May 2020).
MEASURES
- Following the declaration of emergency, the local governors have more legal authority to impose measures they deem necessary to avoid further spread of outbreak.
- Different prefectural governments have issued the emergency measures after the declaration of emergency by the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
- The Emergency Economic Measures for Response to COVID-19 has been announced to support business and public to move towards the economy recovery too.
- In addition, on 7 April, the Basic Policies, promulgated on 28 March, have been revised.
- On 11 April, the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that all office work must be conducted from home in principle. The number of employees shall be reduced by a minimum of 70% in cases where going office is absolutely necessary. All citizens are also refrained from going to facilities with conditions of 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact setting) such as bars, night clubs, karaoke, and restaurants with waiting staff in the entertainment districts.
IMPACT ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
Under the revised Basic Policies, businesses which perform operations for essential goods or services are required to continue the operation, including food-related sectors such as:
- Food and beverage supply (agriculture, forestry, fishery, importing, manufacturing, processing, distribution, and online shopping of food and beverage etc.)
- Canteens, restaurants, coffee shops, home delivery and take-out, retailers of daily necessities (department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores, hardware stores etc.)