外出自粛、首都圏に拡大　１都４県知事がメッセージ―新型コロナ「感染爆発」警戒

　新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を受け、東京都の小池百合子知事は２６日、埼玉、千葉、神奈川、山梨各県の知事とテレビ会議を開き、各地域の住民に不要不急の外出自粛を呼び掛ける共同メッセージをまとめた。「感染爆発」への懸念は首都圏で広がっており、東京都に続いて防止の取り組みを強めることで足並みをそろえた。
　共同メッセージでは、感染者の急増による「都市封鎖」といった事態を避けるため、外出自粛のほか▽換気の悪い密閉、密集空間などを回避▽イベントの自粛▽時差通勤、在宅勤務などの実施▽感染が分かりにくい若年層の慎重な行動―が必要だと強調した。
　これに先立ち、神奈川県は東京都と足並みを合わせ、週末の外出自粛や在宅勤務、イベント延期などを県民に要請。黒岩祐治知事は記者会見で「感染拡大を食い止めるには今が非常に重要だ」と訴えた。埼玉県も週末の不要不急の外出自粛を呼び掛け、千葉、山梨両県も都内に向けての外出を控えるよう求めた。（2020/03/26-21:21）

The governors of Tokyo and four neighboring prefectures issued a joint message on Thursday urging their people to avoid leaving home for nonessential purposes, to prevent an explosive surge in COVID-19 infections.
   The governors of Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Yamanashi held a teleconference on the day as the number of cases of the coronavirus disease is rising notably in the Japanese capital.
   In the joint message, the governors stressed that people need to avoid going outside, keep away from spaces with poor air ventilation and crowds, refrain from holding events, in order to avert a citywide lockdown. They also urged young people to remain cautious as it is difficult to detect infections among them.
   Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, at a press conference on Wednesday, described the current situation as a "critical stage" in terms of whether the capital can prevent an explosive surge in COVID-19 cases. She called on Tokyo residents to stay home over the coming weekend and working at home on weekdays.
   The four neighboring prefectures followed Tokyo in strengthening measures to block the spread of the novel coronavirus.