政府、孤独・孤立対策室設置へ

　坂本哲志地方創生担当相は１６日の閣議後記者会見で、孤独・孤立問題対策室を週内にも新設する方針を明らかにした。新型コロナウイルスの影響で深刻化する社会的な孤独・孤立問題への対応に省庁横断で取り組み、新たな対策を打ち出すことを目指す。
　菅義偉首相が１２日に坂本氏に対し、孤独・孤立問題の総合調整に当たるよう指示した。対策室は内閣官房に設置し、厚生労働省や文部科学省から職員を集め、１０人程度で構成する見通し。貧困、自殺などの課題に対応する。坂本氏は会見で「落選しているときに孤独感を非常に感じた」と自身の体験を紹介した。
　自民、公明両党も孤独・孤立対策に関する専門組織を近く立ち上げる。（2021/02/16-12:07）

The Japanese government plans to set up an office for the issue of loneliness and isolation as early as this week, regional revitalization minister Tetsushi Sakamoto, who will double as minister for the issue, revealed at a press conference on Tuesday.
   The new office will aim to map out new measures to tackle spreading social loneliness and isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, through efforts across the borders of ministries and agencies.
   It will be placed under the Cabinet Secretariat and start with around 10 staff members including officials from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
   On Friday, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga instructed Sakamoto to coordinate government efforts to address the issue of loneliness and isolation.
   At the press conference, Sakamoto mentioned his experience of feeling a strong sense of loneliness after he temporarily left the Diet, Japan's parliament, following his election defeat.