From Tokyo Pubs to Gyms, Here’s What’s Affected By the Emergency
From Tokyo Pubs to Gyms, Here’s What’s Affected By the Emergency
(Bloomberg) -- Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike unveiled a list of businesses that will be asked to close in the Japanese capital from Saturday in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus. A month-long state of emergency was declared Monday in the capital along with six other prefectures, as infections in Tokyo tripled to top 1,500 in just over a week.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the industries affected:
| Industries required to close | Businesses allowed to remain open |
|---|---|
| Universities and cram schools | Health care facilities, veterinary clinics |
| Exercise facilities | Supermarkets, convenience stores |
| Entertainment facilities, theaters | Children’s daycare, welfare services |
| Night clubs, arcades | Public transportation |
| Internet cafes | Financial institutions including banks, brokerages |
| Karaoke | Hair salons, hardware stores |
| Pachinko parlors | Factories, delivery services |
| Bowling alleys | Restaurants and pubs serving food will be required to close at 8 p.m. and stop serving alcohol at 7 p.m. |
| Museums and art galleries | Media |
| Hotels, public baths |
Firms will be eligible for 500,000 yen ($4,600) in compensation for closing a business and 1 million yen for multiple businesses, Koike told a meeting of her virus task force Friday.
An emergency declaration enables local officials to take measures such as ordering the cancellation of events, restricting use of facilities such as schools and movie theaters and appropriating land or buildings for temporary medical facilities. The declaration came after pressure from the public and the medical community.
There are no penalties associated with breaching instructions, except in the case of concealing supplies after the government orders them to be handed over. Even so, businesses are likely to cooperate in closing outlets, while more residents are expected to stay indoors.
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