緊急事態宣言、迅速な発出を　新型コロナで提言―全国知事会

　全国知事会（会長・飯泉嘉門徳島県知事）は９日、新型コロナウイルスへの対応をめぐってテレビ会議を開き、政府に対する緊急提言をまとめた。首都圏以外で感染が拡大した場合、対象地域の知事の意向を踏まえて、緊急事態宣言の発出について迅速に対応するよう要請した。地域への周知などを行うため、宣言発効までに一定の期間を設けることも求めた。近く政府に申し入れる。
　知事会として感染爆発を「絶対阻止」するため、緊急事態宣言の対象地域への往来を控えるよう国民に呼び掛けるメッセージもまとめた。
　提言では、１８日召集の通常国会に政府が提出するコロナ対策の特別措置法改正案について、営業時間短縮の要請などへの順守義務を負わせ、従わない事業者への罰則を盛り込むよう主張。適用する際の課題やガイドラインを示すことも求めた。（2021/01/09-14:37）

Japanese prefectural governors at an online meeting on Saturday drew up a set of emergency proposals to the central government in dealing with the resurging novel coronavirus, including a request for swiftly expanding a state of emergency over the epidemic.
   Following the state's fresh coronavirus emergency covering Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures, the National Governors' Association urged the central government to quickly issue a state of emergency if the virus spreads rapidly in areas outside the Tokyo metropolitan region, based on opinions of the governors of the affected prefectures.
   Participating governors also asked the central government to set a certain period in the lead-up to the effectuation of such declarations, in order to inform citizens in affected areas of the measures. The association will submit the set of proposals to the central government shortly.
   The governors also adopted a message urging people to refrain from traveling to and from regions under a state of emergency, in a bid to prevent an explosive spread of infections by all means. The state of emergency for Tokyo and the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa took effect on Friday and is slated to run until Feb. 7.
   In the package, the governors urged the central government to include in a planned bill to amend the special measures law on the fight against the novel coronavirus an obligation for businesses to comply with authorities' requests for shortening operating hours and the introduction of penalties on those refusing to accept such requests.