Comments by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe

  • Will certainly not be closing roads
  • Essential public services will operate as normal
  • Want people to refrain from going to bars, nightclubs
  • Want businesses to reduce numbers in the workplace by 70%

It feels like he wants to imply that a certain degree of the economy can be kept running but it is up to the citizens to figure that out themselves.

Unfortunately, it is tough to imagine how you can have it both ways i.e. keeping the economy functioning healthily while limiting the virus outbreak from becoming more widespread.

I'm sure majority of the citizens will adhere to the requests from the government but he really needs to be sending a stronger message here surely.