鉄道各社に乗客への時差通勤呼び掛けを要請　新型コロナ拡大で―赤羽国交相

　赤羽一嘉国土交通相は２５日の閣議後記者会見で、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大防止策の一環で、全国の鉄道事業者に対し、駅構内や車内の放送で乗客に時差通勤やテレワークなどを呼び掛けるよう要請したことを明らかにした。要請は２４日付で、車内の混雑緩和が目的。手洗いやアルコール消毒などのアナウンスも求めた。
　一方で赤羽氏は、公共交通機関の利用自体の自粛を求めることについては、国民生活や経済活動に大きな影響を与えることから「現時点では考えていない」と述べた。
　このほか、赤羽氏は同省の本省職員に対し、午前８～９時台の混雑時間帯を避けるため、２５日から当面の間、できる限り時差通勤やテレワークを活用するよう指示したと説明。「本省の半分くらいの職員に時差出勤の励行に取り組んでもらいたい」と述べた。（2020/02/25-10:37）

Japan's transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said Tuesday his ministry has called on railway operators across the nation to encourage passengers to opt for staggered commuting and teleworking to help prevent the further spread of the new coronavirus.
   The request was made on Monday, he told a press conference, noting that railway operators were asked to make such announcements at stations and on trains. The measure is intended to alleviate congestion on trains, he said.
   The transport ministry also requested the companies to make announcements encouraging hand washing and the use of alcohol disinfectants, he said.
   Meanwhile, Akaba said the ministry is not considering asking people to refrain from using public transportation systems at the moment. Such a step will make their lives very inconvenient while delivering a huge blow to economic activities, he said.
   Akaba also said that he instructed staff workers at the ministry's headquarters in Tokyo to avoid the morning rush hour between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in commuting and use teleworking as much as possible for the time being. "I want around half of the headquarters employees to adopt staggered commuting," he added.