Tokyo (CNN) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is facing a public backlash after he said the government would distribute two reusable cloth face masks per household amid growing concern over medical shortages as the country faces a worsening coronavirus outbreak.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus has spiked in recent weeks, after it appeared that Japan’s initial response had got the virus relatively under control. As of Wednesday, there were more than 2, 460 cases across Japan, and 78 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally .
That spike has seen a raft of new restrictions put in place in Tokyo and other major cities, and a run on protective gear, including face masks. On Wednesday, Abe said the provision of cloth masks to the worst hit areas “will be helpful in responding to the increasing increasing demand.”
But Abe’s proposal to send two masks to each household attracted outrage and mockery online Wednesday, with the hashtag “Abe’s mask” and “screw your two masks” trending on Twitter.
Many felt the move was lackluster and would not go into effect fast enough to have a chance at curbing the spread of the virus, with masks not due to be distributed until the end of the month. Others dubbed the policy “Abenomask policy” as satirical memes showing well-known cartoon characters sharing one mask between four family members popped up online.
The anger comes as Abe resisted calls Wednesday to declare a state of emergency, saying that use of such powers was not imminent.
A declaration of a state of emergency would allow prefectural governors to send out a stronger message when it comes to urging the public to stay at home, but the measures will not be legally binding.
Last week, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents in the city of roughly . 5 million to telework where possible and avoid bars, restaurants and public gatherings up until April 12. Tokyo has now extended the closure of schools and public facilities like zoos and museums up until May 6.
Koike on Tuesday called on Abe to issue the national emergency declaration, after the capital recorded 95 new cases , its highest single-day jump so far.
Explosive surge
Abe said the government would prioritize distributing masks to around 50 million households in areas where coronavirus infections have been spiking. The distribution will kick off later this month and each household with a registered postal address will receive the masks through the post, part of a wider coronavirus economic package that the government is rolling out.
Over the past week, Japan has scrambled to avert an explosive surge in infections. While the current tally stands at around 2, 460 cases , Japan – a country of over 300 people – has only tested just over 30, , compared with , 000 tests carried out in neighboring South Korea, which has a population of just over 60 million.
The apparently low infection rate has created what many experts fear is a false sense of security, with people still going out in public, some not wearing masks, to see cherry blossoms, a traditional spring pastime.
On Wednesday, medical experts warned that Japan’s healthcare system would not be able to bear the strain if coronavirus infections continued to spread.
A government panel warned that though Japan has not seen an explosive increase in infections so far, hospitals and medical clinics in Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa, Osaka and Hyogo were strict stretched and that “drastic countermeasures need to be taken as quickly as possible. “
Economic repercussions are also a concern. Earlier this week, Japan’s ruling party pledged to secure a 90 trillion yen ($ 556 billion) stimulus package to cushion an economy already hit by the postponement of the Olympics and coronavirus pandemic.
- DIY masks amid shortages
while Abe’s cloth mask proposal was met with anger, Japan isn ‘t the only place mulling the use of improvised facial wear, amid widespread shortages in proper protective gear.
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