「まん延防止」に５県追加　群馬・石川・岡山・広島・熊本―北海道は緊急事態見送り

　政府は１３日、新型コロナウイルス対策の「まん延防止等重点措置」の適用対象に群馬、石川、岡山、広島、熊本の５県を追加する方針を固めた。期間は１６日から６月１３日まで。１４日に基本的対処方針分科会を開いて専門家の意見を聴取し、政府対策本部で正式決定する。一方、感染者が急増する北海道への緊急事態宣言発令は当面見送る。
　菅義偉首相は１３日、西村康稔経済再生担当相らと首相官邸で協議。その後、記者団に重点措置の追加について「複数の県から要請が出ている。（１４日に）専門家の意見を聴いた上で判断したい」と表明した。
　北海道への宣言発令については「重点措置が適用されたばかりだ。措置が有効か判断した上で対応することが大事だ」と述べるにとどめた。（2021/05/13-22:55）

The Japanese government on Thursday began preparations to include the western prefecture of Okayama in the list of areas in the novel coronavirus pre-emergency stage, where countermeasures similar to those under a state of emergency can be taken.
   A decision is seen to be made during the week, based on the state of infections in the prefecture, informed sources said. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of the government's coronavirus response, and others on the day to discuss the matter.
   Meanwhile, the government is expected to forgo declaring a state of emergency for now for the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, which is seeing a spike in infection numbers, the sources said.
   Okayama on Wednesday asked the state for the pre-emergency status due to the deterioration of the infection situation there. A government official said that the state of infections in Okayama is "very severe," and stressed the need for the pre-emergency designation for the prefecture.
   "We want to thoroughly share our ideas and cooperate with local authorities concerned," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference Thursday.