Japanese prime minister scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday. During the press event, Shinzo Abe is going to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the country, the Kyodo news agency said.
PM Abe planned to share the fresh information on COVID-19 in Japan. Now, Japan is thinking on the partial lifting of a nationwide state of emergency, imposed in April to curb the COVID outbreak.
As the foreign ministry’s statement reads, PM Abe requested the emergency nationwide closure of elementary, junior high and high schools from Monday to keep them shut until the regular spring break ends last month.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over PM’s abrupt requests for voluntary restraints on large-scale events and the closure of schools across the country.
Actually, one of the coalition partners of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party asked for the news conference, hoping to strengthen the government’s dissemination of information. Opposition lawmakers, including the leader of Democratic Party for the People, said that Abe should speak out to citizens in Japan and the rest of the world.
In addition, the upcoming press conference will help Shinzo Abe to gain an understanding of the government’s policy on the novel infection. Some critics have said that the prime minister is laying low, a senior government official said, explaining why the news conference will be held.
The news conference is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting Friday, PM said he will explain Cabinet response to the virus crisis in detail if necessary.
