welcome to nhk "newsline." you're watching live video from the office of the prime minister in tokyo and abe shinzo has declared a state of emergency for seven of the 47 prefectures over the new coronavirus. he's about to lay out the reasons for his decision. and he's expected to explain what the step means for tens of millions of people living in those parts of the country. now the move comes as more than 4,100 people have tested positive for the virus across japan. another 700 cases were reported from the "diamond princess" cruise ship which is quarantined

near tokyo. the declaration covers tokyo, osaka and five other prefectures. it will be in place for a month. once again, the declaration covers tokyo, kanagawa, saitama, osaka, chiba and hyogo prefectures. we see the prime minister, abe shinzo coming in, approaching the podium at the moment. he is about to make his explanation for what it means for the tens of millions of people living in those parts of the country. let's listen in to the news conference with simultaneous interpretation. >> translator: we hold a press

conference of the prime minister abe shinzo and this is the venue that we are holding this press conference. we have taken up good distance and you can take off your masks when you ask questions. first, we will have a statement from the prime minister and then we will open up the podium for questions from you. firsrst at the outset, througho japan, doctors, nurses, assistant nurses, hospital staff and the people who a are involv in the countermeasures as public health facilities as well as experts in clinical technicians, on behalf of the japanese public i would like to offer our heart felt gratitude. the novel coronavirus fight against the virus they are at the forefront with a strong sense of responsibility and right at this moment, in order

to save as much life as possible, they are putting their efforts dedicatededly and i wou like to show my heart felt respect. throughout the world already, more than 16,000 people have died. this is a harsh fight against the virus. they have solid techniques and lofty sense of missions. these medical personnel, the existence gives us courage. thank you very much. with the risk of getting infected, it is a very difficult situation that they are facing back-to-back but they're not afraid and they are putting their best efforts and in order to support these people i would lilike to do whatetever i can i order to protect the health care system.

we will do all measures possible. and essential to prevention of infections the ramp up and crossing the prefectures are -- to offer help to further enhance the supply capability. those with mild or no symptoms who are infected we will be treated not as medical institutions but the accommodation facilities so as to alleviate the burden of the medical institutions. hotel chains, we have secured the 10,000 guest rooms in the tokyo metropololitan area, 3,00 rooms in the area. japan foundation also is constructing and building temporary facilities. these will be utilized so that the medical resources will be allocated to accommodate those with severe symptoms so that we will be able to maintain the function of hospitals.

however, witith all of these endeavors tokyo, osaka, these urban areas we are seeing a surge in the number of cases and in terms of the number of beds we are apparently coming very close to the limit. physical and psychological burden of the medical persrsonn is i increasing. and so at the forefront of the medical health care system is at a very critical situation. currently, we are not at a stage where nationwide and rapid spread is being observed. however, there are places that are very pressed in its medical systems so we have no luxury of time. that is the conclusion. and this kind of situation will have the risk to impact materially to public life and public economy.

that is our judgment. so today in this press conference, we have dr. omi with me and we have got the approval from the advisory panel and so based on these special measures i hereby issue the declaration of state of emergency. designated area is the four prefectures of tokyo, kanagawa, hyogo, chiba and saitama. the number of cases is highest in tokyo so government will by the end of this month renovate olympics related facilities and

we plan to build facilities to accommodate about 800 people with mild to moderate symptoms and based on the declaration of the state of emergency if needed we will mobilize self-defense force medical staff and it will be possible to utilize this as a temporary medical facility based on the clause 48 of the special measures law. in order to alleviate and suppress the burden to the health care system what's most important is not to increase the number of thehe infections. and what is going to be important for that foreremost i the behavior transformation of the public, ie to change the

behavior. this will be exercised withed by -- by the prefecture governors and hyogo and the chiba and based on the clause 45 of -- article 45 clause 1 of the special measures laws, we will ask that accept for needed to main -- daily life, need not to needlessly go out with the measures that we'llll make. in tokyo the number of cases has surpassed 1,000 people and we are seeing the pace doubling inside. if this case continues in terms of the spread of the infection in two weeks' time there will be 10,000 people infected and the one-month time it will exceed 80,000 people. however, based on the estimates of the experts if all of us put our efforts into trying to

reduce the contact between people by 70% or preferably 80%, then in two week' time we will be able to peak out the increase of the cases and try to -- we will be able to turn that into reduction. and then not only we can avoid the explosive increase of infections but also even opens up t the possibility of containment through cluster countermeasures. and including the period to see the effectiveness of that, up until the end of the week, limited to the one month till may 6th, 70 to 80% of the reduction is the goal that we ask everyone to self-restrain from doing out and staying home. i will repeat, this state of emergency in order to finish this within one month, the contact between people to reduce

it by 70 to 80% is the prerequisite. this is not an easy thing. we have been asking for the implementation of remote working, teleworking, but except for the businesses that is essential to maintain social function, i would like to ask that people work from home rather than offices. but if you need to work at an office, please try to rotate in shifts so that people who come to work will be reduced by minimum 70% or to adopt a staggered commute. and within the office, make ample social distance. these kind of measures should be implemented and i would like to ask all of the business operators to cooperate. also in terms of f restaurant

operations, full ventilation. these are the kind of the measures that i would like to ask. and the school closure is going to be prolonged. online learning, this kind of environmenent will bebe improve with the localities. we will accelerate that and in terms of medical examinations through phone and online including the first timers it will no longer be prohibited. and so those who are afraid of getting infected by visiting hospital, please proactively utilize the system so that they they would have to avoid seeing a doctor. then on top of that, shopping for the daily essentials if you need to go out, then close, crowded, conversation over a short distance, these three cs must be avoided in the daily

behaviors. and so before going out for a walk or jogging, there is no issue. but on the other handnd, the the cs overlaps quite heavily in places like bars, nightclubs, karaoke. please refrain from going to such places. gatherings and events should be also avoided. drinking parties, even dining with a large number of people aside from family members should be refrainined. what's very scary about this infectious disease is that people may not have any fevers. may be totally symptomatic, but may be infected with the virus and without knowing so could be

spreading to the people around them and the virus spreads. so already i may be infected. that is the kind of the sense that i would like to ask all of you, especially those in -- young people to have. and when you go out, try to avoid crowds. try to maintain social distance, distance between other people and also wear masks so that you would not spread droplets. these kind of behaviors are called for. and this will protect other people's life. and as a result, will protect your own life. so i would like to ask the public for your cooperation. and as a state of emergency measures are going to taken so of course there's going to be a substantial impact to the economic activity. even now many of the small and

medium sized businesses are having big difficulties in keeping their business operations not only global economy but japanese economy is right now facing the biggest crisis post world war ii. it is not an exaggeration and with that strong sense of crisis, job and livelihood will be protected. and in order to do so, 20% of the gdp equivalent project scale of 108 trillion yen which is one of the largest economic package globally will be implemented. >> translator: to the household and the small and medium sized owners we will provide cash handouts worth 6 billion yen.

in addition to 300,000 yen per household, we will combine it with child allowance and add 10,000 yen per child. this way, we will support household economies of families with many children. the very backbone of the japanese economy is the people of small and medium sized enterprises, even in this difficulty you're all bearing with all of the strength that you can muster and you are the potential strength of japan. we hear your voices. and we -- and your efforts should not be wasted under sucu intention f for the very f firs time we accomplished a grant system for businesses. for those snes with decreased sales we will provide 2 million

yen and to the individual business owners we will provide 1 million yen. we will also reduce and exempt property tax. in addition to the payment of the consumption tax, the payment of the social insurance will be deferred for a year and of course no arrears are needed. by implementing the deferment of 26 trillion yen you'll be able to use the funds at hand to continue the business. regional banks, credit unions, credit cooperatives in the private sector will also provide financing with effective no interest, no collateral with loan redeemable for up to five years and also we will raise the percentage of the employment

adjustment subsidies by the government to the record level, so all the measures that we can think of will be mobilized and together with all of you we are determined to overcome thihis largest t crisis in the post wod war ii. all the public transportation will run as usual. no roads will be closed and there is no need to close the roads. that is the viewew of the exper. and overseas in doing the lockdown, many people select cities which led to confusion

and alalso spread of infection. what we have to fear is the fear itself. due to the demagogues spread by sas the toilet papers is scarce at stores and this i is somethi we remember clearly. we all are deeply concerned against the invisible enemy of virus. in that situation, sns should be a tool that deepens the bonds of people and tool to generate solidarity in society and also a tool to mitigate the social concern. however, if we are just driven

by fear and panic based on misinformation then that have more damage on our economy and society and lives which is greater than the risks of the virus itself. according to the experts, the infection risks in tokyo and osaka, even at current state, if we stay at home and we mobilize is not really high. it is completely a different situation from the overseas cities which underwent the lockdown. so please refrain from going to local regions. in local regions, there are many elderly people whose symptoms could go serious.

so please refrain from taking any actions that will increase the infection risks and of course we will keep and maintain the social functions. we will work together with local municipalities and all of the electricity, gas, telecommunications, financing, collection and garbage and incineration will run as usual. people who are working at care facilities for elderly and children we will continue to ask for your cooperation and work for the people who need your services. for the people involved in the manufacturing and processing of daily necessities such as food, people who are engaged in logistics and also people engaged in retail stores.

you will all continue your businesses. that's what i ask. so please, act calmly based on accurate information. now our lives have changed completely in the past two months. all the life events have been canceled which we looked for. all the drinking occasions with friends have been canceled. we cannot go to where we want to go, we cannonot meet our friend. our daily lives as we used to have are gone. however, your actions, your such actions have certainly saved many lives. and so i'd like to thank the

efforts and cooperation of each one of you. frankly speaking, the government and local municipalities alone cannot overcome this emergency and this is a fact. can we avert the explosive increase of the infected cases, can we save people with serious conditions? anand can we protect you and al protect y your loved ones. all these depends on how y you behahave. so once again, i would like to ask for your cooperation. even in such big concern where we cannot see what's waiting ahead, we are seeing hopes

coming out. the companies and researchers around japan, around the world, are gathering their intelligence to develop vaccine and also drugs. a drug which has been approved for novel influenza have been administered to more than 120 cases and there are reports that it's been effective in improving their symptoms. under the observational study we tried to expand the use of atigan to those who wish to have this administered so for that we will triple the stocks of atigan up to 2 million worth and to produce the materials which is required to increase the production companies around japan are offering help.

the automobile manufacturers will help increasing the production of ventilators. the airline companies whose flights have been canceled one after another offer to help sewing the gowns for the medical service providers and for students who will start going to schools there are people who are delivering hand made masks. also, in order to fill the supermarkets with daily necessities, even at this very moment there are truck drivers who are protecting the logist logistics, day and night. and for the medical as much as providers at the front line, there are people who say that they want to provide help and people -- some people have started crowdfunding and the

japanese nursing association are calling to nurses -- 50,000 nurses who are taking temporary leave to come back and to provide help. i want to ask for your help at this national crisis. please join together in this fight against the virus. actually, some people have responded to the call of the japanese nursing association and already there are some people who said that they will return to the medical front line in order to save lives, and in order to protect lives. in all areas at this crisis, people nationwide are standing up to do whatever they can, as mitch as possible. and this is the hope that i talked about.

nine years ago, we experienced the great east japan earthquake. many lives, many people lost precious lives. many people had -- were hurt. and lost their loved ones. it was a very difficult time, but also it was the bonds of the people or the spirit of mutual help that came throughout japan that gave us hope. we are again facing a great difficulty. however, if we work together once again with hope we will rise to the challenge and can

move forward. we will beat the virus. we will defeat the virus. and we can overcome this ordeal of the state of emergency. ththis is my conviction. that is it from me. thank you. >> translator: now we would like to take questions from the floor. questions will be answered by prime minister abe as well as -- so will you please step up, please. some of the questions may be answered and explained by the doctor. those who want to ask questions please raise your hand and please walk up to the stand in the front. and please state your name and affiliation. so make sure that you raise your hand -- raise your hand to show

your intent of posing the question. so please go ahead. >> boris johnson in inintensive

care as britain rattles the coronavirus. foreign secretary dominic raab is acting in the job as required. french government announces physical exercise will now be banned in paris between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. this as the country reports a record number of fatalities as they coronavirus death toll nears 9000.

george pal is freed