Part 4 of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Emergency Measures

The day before yesterday, in order to move forward with our countermeasures, we announced the fourth round of Emergency Measures based on the opinions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, municipalities, business community, and experts. The battle we have been waging against this virus has had a serious impact on the lives of Tokyo residents and business activities. It is the role of public administration to take proactive measures and we will boldly take actions to stop the spread of the disease, and support residents and businesses.

These emergency measures are structured on three pillars. The first of these measures is to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. In order to prevent the spread of infection, we will take a wide range of measures, including the establishment of a payment system for SMEs that fully cooperate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's call for the suspension or shortening of operations, the strengthening of the virus testing system and the system for accepting patients, and financial support for municipalities.

The second is strengthening the safety net to support economic activities and people's lives in Tokyo. Among other measures to dispel the concerns of Tokyo residents and businesses, we will strengthen our support for SMEs in terms of cash flow and business continuity, provide temporary housing for those who have lost their homes, and support the municipalities in their efforts to prevent pregnant women from becoming infected.

And the third is efforts to promote social structural change and overcome the crisis we are facing. In order to maintain social life while reducing contact between people, we will improve online education and health care, and promote telework to not only overcome the current crisis, but also improve quality of life and develop high value-added industries.

Among these emergency measures, in order to expeditiously advance those that should be immediately implemented, we have submitted a 357.4 billion yen supplementary budget proposal to this extraordinary session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. Including this proposed budget, the TMG’s funding for the emergency measures will amount to around 800 billion yen, making the relief package the largest ever in the TMG’s history, well surpassing those compiled during the 2008 global financial crisis and in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. It is said that Japan is facing its greatest national crisis since World War II. The TMG will work as one and devote our efforts to advancing the emergency measures in order to overcome this crisis situation in cooperation with our residents and businesses.

Furthermore, we have submitted to this extraordinary session of the Metropolitan Assembly a proposed Ordinance on Special Measures for Protecting the Rights and Interests of People Affected by the Spread of COVID-19 and Other Matters, which stipulates the extension of expiration dates concerning their administrative rights and interests and exemption from administrative obligations unable to be performed before deadlines. Your deliberation is highly appreciated.