Japan plans punishment for breaking COVID-19 rules

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga plans to legislate fines and prison sentences for people not complying with COVID-19 preventive measures, while there are concerns of infringement on personal freedoms. Last Wednesday, Japan recorded the total of 300,000 cases despite the government expanded the state of emergency beyond the Tokyo metropolitan area to Osaka and other prefectures. Suga administration submits the proposed revision in the regular Diet session starting this week, those refusing to be hospitalised face a maximum fine of ¥1 million or a prison sentence of up to a year. People refusing to answer or giving false information to health authorities tracing close contacts could be given with a maximum fine of ¥500,000 or jail time of up to six months. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has held a meeting to discuss a proposed revision to the infectious disease law. At the meeting, health experts approved the plan but warned the government to be cautious in giving out punishment. Government is also expected to revise the special measures law on the coronavirus that enables the government to fine businesses failed to comply with its requests to shorten their operating hours or temporarily close. Under the proposal, businesses in prefectures under a state of emergency is given a fine of up to ¥500,000.