安倍首相「症状あれば自宅待機を」　イベント延期検討呼び掛け―政府対策本部

　政府は１８日、新型コロナウイルス感染症対策本部（本部長・安倍晋三首相）の会合を首相官邸で開き、国内で進む感染拡大の抑制策を協議した。首相は国民に向けて「発熱など風邪の症状がみられるときは、学校や会社を休み、外出を控えてほしい」と要請。大規模イベントの延期も検討するよう呼び掛けた。
　首相は病欠について「感染拡大の防止につながる大切な行動だ」と指摘。「生徒や従業員が休みやすい環境整備が大切だ」と述べ、テレワークなど柔軟な対応を学校や企業に求めた。
　大規模イベントに関しては、「開催時期の見直しの必要性も含め、適切な情報提供を速やかに行ってほしい」と各閣僚に指示した。（2020/02/18-21:37）

Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe said Tuesday he wants people to take off from work or school and refrain from going out when they have cold-like symptoms such as fever, in order to prevent any further spread of the new coronavirus from China.
   Abe made the remark at a meeting of the government's headquarters led by him to deal with the virus situation. He also called for large-scale events to be put off as needed.
   Taking leave when feeling unwell is "an important action to help prevent the spread of the virus," Abe said. "It is also important to create an environment in which students and employees find it easier to take sick leave," Abe also said, calling on schools and companies to take a flexible approach, such as introducing a teleworking system.
   He instructed ministers who participated in the meeting to see to it that reviews are made as needed on the timing of holding large events and that relevant information is provided promptly and appropriately.
   Also on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference that hotlines set up across the nation for returnees from China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and people who had contact with those infected with the virus had received a total of 4,885 requests for consultations by Sunday. Of the total, 126 cases were referred to designated outpatient facilities, he said.