2. Devoting our efforts to measures against COVID-19, the crisis confronting us

It is our mandate to protect the precious lives of our citizens through solid crisis management. To fulfill this responsibility, we must overcome the crisis we are facing now, COVID-19. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) is currently implementing state of emergency measures which will remain in effect until the end of this month. I would like to express my deep appreciation once again to the people and businesses of Tokyo who have been cooperating with us and health care workers who are battling this virus day and night. With regard to the handling of the COVID-19 situation after this month, the TMG will determine its response based on input, such as expert opinions and the basic guidelines issued by the national government.

Protecting residents’ lives without fail and showing a path toward economic recovery

The number of new positive cases is trending downward, thanks to everyone’s great efforts. But if we relax our endeavors now, the infection might start spreading again. So that our past efforts will not be in vain, we need to renew our resolve to “not get infected or infect others.” I would like to share the importance of this with each and every resident of Tokyo. And, in order to firmly protect people’s lives, which are more important than anything else, we must ensure that we are well prepared against the virus, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

At the same time, we will identify what restrictions should be placed on activities, and advance initiatives to restore our economy in balance with efforts to prevent infection. As COVID-19 continues to impact society, it is imperative that we show a path that will enable the residents and businesses of Tokyo to live with hope.

Compilation of a supplementary budget to implement measures that are needed now

Securing a health care provision system that can fully respond to COVID-19; accelerating measures aimed at containing the spread of infection; and rolling out initiatives for economic recovery in stages. Based on these concepts, we compiled and proposed a supplementary budget totaling 338.7 billion yen to this regular session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly to promptly implement measures that are needed now.

Strengthening and enhancing the health care provision system

The main rule of crisis management is, first, to be more than ready. With an eye to the upcoming winter season, we will secure a health care delivery system that can respond appropriately even if the infection situation reaches a disaster level. Specifically, we will increase the number of hospital beds secured in Tokyo to about 9,200 by establishing new temporary medical care facilities and increasing the beds at oxygen and medical care stations. At designated hotels for recovery, we will improve the recovery environment for COVID-19 patients such as providing antibody cocktail treatments. For those recovering at home, we will have midwives provide prenatal care for pregnant women and implement swift patient-physician matchups through virtual waiting rooms using an online clinical consultation system. Through these measures, we will strengthen detailed services tailored to the COVID-19 patient’s symptoms, and build a system where patients can recover with peace of mind.

Initiatives for containment of the virus

What hold the keys to containing the spread of the infection are vaccines and enhancement of testing. The percentage of those who are 12 or older who have received their second dose of the vaccine is expected to be around 63 percent by the end of this month. In order to keep this trend going, we will subsidize small- to medium-sized enterprises and universities for the necessary costs of implementing workplace vaccinations. Regarding the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the so-called booster shot, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science will advance research on the presence of antibodies following the COVID-19 booster shot to study what methods are effective. Moreover, we will continue to give PCR tests in strategic and intensive manners at places such as entertainment districts and facilities for senior citizens. And, to prevent the infection from spreading among children and students, we will prepare testing systems for schools and day care centers.

Initiatives for economic recovery

Based on the assumption that restrictions currently placed on our activities will be eased in the future, in preparation for the recovery of our economy, we will provide focused support to restaurant and tourism businesses that are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Specifically, for eating and drinking establishments that are trying to restart their business full-scale, we will send experts and subsidize their efforts to strengthen their business foundations. Furthermore, we will support initiatives that will lead to enhancement of the earning power of tourism businesses, such as measures for digitalization and the development of micro-tourism plans.

Advancing the measures needed to overcome this crisis

As the waves of the infection are subsiding, it is now more crucial than ever for us to adopt medium- and long-term perspectives and prepare ourselves to endure any conceivable situation. By swiftly implementing the policy measures laid out in the supplementary budget proposal, and prioritizing “no deaths or severe cases of COVID-19,” we will further strengthen the system for protecting the lives and health of Tokyo’s residents. In addition, we will powerfully support business activities which are the source of Tokyo’s energy. Moreover, we will continue to boldly advance needed initiatives, including a study on measures focusing on future normalization of our economic activities, and overcome this crisis by all means.