TOKYO (JAPAN) – The government will urge businesses to aim for 70% telecommuting and enhance other social distancing norms in the wake of a spurt in coronavirus cases among workers, said the economy minister.
Though the country has generally avoided mass infections that killed thousands in other nations, a record spike in cases in the past week in the nation’s capital and other major cities has stoked fears of a second wave.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura late on Sunday urged business leaders to enhance anti-virus measures such as working from home.
Last week, Tokyo recorded 366 cases, with 239 on Sunday alone. Fukuoka reported a record 90 cases on Sunday and Osaka too saw rising numbers.
“At one point, commuter numbers were down by 70 to 80%, but now it’s only about 30%,” Nishimura said. “We really don’t want to backtrack on this, so we have to explore new ways of working and keep telecommuting high.”
The minister also told businesses to avoid large gathering of workers and encourage staggered shifts.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
