1. Advance COVID-19 response with the people of Tokyo

I would like to first speak about our response to COVID-19, which is now entering a critical stage.

Protecting the invaluable lives of the people of Tokyo

The virus is now rapidly spreading in Tokyo. There is no telling how the situation will develop, especially with new positive cases increasing among older persons who are at high risk of becoming severely ill and the number of severe cases also trending at a high level. We must prevent any further spread of the virus by all costs in order to protect the lives of the people of Tokyo and to reduce the burden on the health care workers at the frontlines of COVID-19 response.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) has built up a system for conducting up to about 68,000 tests a day, and is currently strengthening the system for accepting patients with an eye to securing 300 beds for severe cases and is working for the further utilization of designated hotels for recovery. On December 16, we will establish a new dedicated medical facility at the former Tokyo Metropolitan Fuchu Medical Center for the Disabled. By identifying positive cases early on and swiftly hospitalizing patients or sending them to designated hotels, we will restrict the spread of the virus and the exacerbation of symptoms.

Protecting the invaluable lives of Tokyo citizens. I have constantly raised this as the most important mission I must fulfill as the governor of Tokyo. To that end, I will continue to devote myself to doing what needs to be done, centering on the three pillars of “no deaths,” “no severe cases,” and “preventing the collapse of the health care delivery system.”

Getting through this critical stage early on with the people and businesses of Tokyo

The cooperation of the people and businesses of Tokyo is none other than the lifeline protecting each individual. I ask once again for the people of Tokyo to thoroughly follow the basic guidelines from the Tokyo iCDC Expert Board, including wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, ventilation, and disinfection. For the 20 days from November 28 until December 17, I am requesting that karaoke businesses and establishments serving alcohol in Tokyo’s 23 special wards and the Tama area shorten their business hours. Although this is a large burden on businesses, we must stop the spread of the virus here and now. I ask for your kind understanding. Grants will be provided to small and medium enterprises that fully cooperate with this request. Just the other day I took discretionary action to enact a supplementary budget for that purpose.

During this 20-day period, I also ask that the people of Tokyo avoid non-essential outings. If you must go out, please take the utmost precautions to avoid infection. Together with the people and businesses of Tokyo, we must quickly get through this critical stage. We will prepare all possible countermeasures with the determination to implement short-term, intensive response.

A supplementary budget bill for a thorough COVID-19 response that includes the year-end and new year

At this regular session I am proposing a supplementary budget totaling 230.8 billion yen centering on strengthening and enhancing the health care delivery system and safety nets. We will continue to advance initiatives such as provision of bonuses to medical workers and loans for living expenses to households that have been impacted by business suspensions. Taking into account requests from assembly members as well, we will also implement detailed measures for response during the year-end and new year period, which will include ensuring medical consultation and testing systems, responding to the financial needs of SMEs, and providing temporary housing to those who have lost their place of residence. By also partnering with the municipalities in the implementation of such measures, we will ensure that the people of Tokyo feel safe.

Establishing a working style in the “New Normal”

I am again promoting Smooth Biz as it is also effective against the spread of COVID-19. With regard to the “Tokyo Rule,” an initiative conducted jointly with business organizations and labor unions to further spread the adoption of remote work, from next week we will launch a system in which companies supportive of the Tokyo Rule register, establish, and declare their rules. We will strongly promote the establishment of remote work by businesses in Tokyo by providing support such as new loan programs for these companies that formulated their own rules and are promoting telework. From tomorrow, we will kick off the Winter Smooth Biz Period again this year. This and other initiatives will be taken to spread remote work and staggered commuting hours as a work style in the “new normal.” I ask for cooperation from the people and businesses of Tokyo.

To protect precious lives

“Fully protect the lives of the people of Tokyo.” It goes without saying that we must protect lives from the virus, but we must also definitely not forget to protect the lives of those who have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those living in adversity, and those who are concerned about their future. By reinforcing efforts to build safety nets while supporting those in various predicaments, we will continue to firmly protect the precious lives of each and every one of our residents.