５人以上の会食、制限せず　西村氏、菅首相を擁護

　西村康稔経済再生担当相は１６日の衆院内閣委員会の閉会中審査で、新型コロナウイルス感染が再拡大する中、菅義偉首相が５人以上で会食していたことに関し「一律に５人以上は駄目だと申し上げているわけではない」と述べ、問題ないとの認識を示した。立憲民主党の大西健介氏への答弁。
　西村氏は１５日の会見で、会食する際は「クラスター（感染者集団）の８割以上は５人以上だということも頭に置き、長時間、大人数はできるだけ避けていただきたい」と呼び掛けていた。１６日の同委では「どうしてもされる場合は感染防止策を徹底して（ほしい）」と指摘。飛沫（ひまつ）防止のアクリル板を設置している店などを選ぶよう求めた。（2020/12/16-12:37）

Japanese economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Wednesday defended Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga over a series of dinner sessions he held with many people amid the resurgence of coronavirus cases.
   "The government is not necessarily banning dining with five or more people," Nishimura, who is in charge of the government's coronavirus response, told a parliamentary meeting.
   At a press conference on Tuesday, Nishimura called for avoiding dining for many hours and with many people as much as possible, while noting that dining with five or more people accounts for over 80 pct of infection cluster cases involving meals.
   At Wednesday's parliamentary meeting, Nishimura asked people to take thorough infection prevention measures when necessary to have meals with many people, calling for selecting restaurants with acrylic shields and other protective steps in place.
   Suga's series of recent meetings with experts and business leaders to hear their opinions have drawn criticism from members of both ruling and opposition parties as some of the gatherings were with many people.