OREANDA-NEWS. The Japanese authorities have begun to consider the possibility of introducing a state of emergency across the country in connection with the wide spread of coronavirus infection. This was announced by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on January 4 at a press conference in Tokyo.

The politician also reported of the intention to start vaccination of the population by February 20. According to him, the government is already preparing for the possibility of starting vaccination.

On December 31, the Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura announced that the Japanese cabinet could declare a state of emergency if the rapid increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 could not be brought under control.

On January 2, it was reported that the authorities of the Tokyo Prefecture are going to urge the Japanese government to introduce an emergency regime.

The situation with coronavirus of a new type has worsened in Japan since early November; in December, the records for daily growth in new cases and mortality were regularly renewed.