政府、休業拒否の罰則検討　特措法改正、協力店支援も明記―新型コロナ

　政府は２３日、新型コロナウイルスの感染再拡大を受け、コロナ対策の特別措置法改正に向けた調整を本格化させた。営業時間の短縮や休業に応じた店舗への支援措置を明記。要請に応じない場合の罰則も検討する。来年１月召集の通常国会に特措法改正案の提出を目指す。
　政府の新型コロナ対策分科会は２３日の会合で、特措法改正の議論に着手。西村康稔経済再生担当相は終了後の記者会見で「改正の必要性について理解は得られた。迅速に検討を進めたい」と述べた。
　現在、感染が深刻化する地域の知事は、特措法２４条に基づいて飲食店に時短などを求めているが、「協力の要請」にとどまっている。
　改正案は、知事が地域を絞った休業要請などを行えるよう権限を強化。実効性を高めるため、応じた事業者への支援措置を明記する見通しだ。
　要請に応じない事業者には、「罰金」などの罰則を設けることを検討する。自民党の下村博文政調会長は２３日の記者会見で「ペナルティーの法的な根拠を設けることは理にかなっている」と強調した。（2020/12/23-20:07）

The Japanese government on Wednesday began discussions in earnest for revising the special measures law on the fight against the novel coronavirus, including a possible introduction of penalties for businesses that do not follow requests for temporary closures.
   The government will aim to submit a bill to amend the law to the regular session of the Diet, Japan's parliament, to be convened next month.
   The discussions started at a meeting of a government panel on the coronavirus crisis, following the resurgence in infection cases around the country. "We gained (panel members') understanding for the need to revise the law," economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is responsible for the state's coronavirus measures, told a press conference after the meeting. "We'll promote the talks speedily."
   Prefectural governors are now only allowed to make under Article 24 of the special law nonbinding requests for eating and drinking establishments to shorten business hours and close temporarily in response to the epidemic.
   The revised law would boost governors' authority so that they can make requests for shorter business hours and temporary closures in limited areas where the virus is spreading rapidly. It would also clearly stipulate that financial aid be given to businesses that follow such requests.