Yomiuri speculated that Prime Minister Abe is carefully considering whether to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, noting that he needs to strike a balance between maintaining a viable healthcare system and preventing a major economic slowdown.  Because the daily number of new infections in Tokyo continues to remain under 100, some GOJ officials reportedly believe that an emergency declaration would be premature. The daily also noted that leading epidemiologists and public health experts are also divided over the timing of a declaration, quoting an unnamed cabinet minister as saying: “A tug of war is underway between proponents and opponents inside and outside the government, and the midpoint on the rope has not moved in either direction at all.”

In a related story, Asahi focused on remarks made yesterday by Japan Association of Corporate Executives Chairman Sakura calling for a lockdown of Tokyo to end the virus’s adverse effects on the Japanese economy quickly.