関西３府県、緊急事態宣言を要請　政府、慎重に判断へ

　大阪、京都、兵庫の３府県知事は９日、西村康稔経済再生担当相とオンラインで会談し、新型コロナウイルス対策の特別措置法に基づく緊急事態宣言の発令を要請した。西村氏は会談後、記者団に「専門家の意見を聞き、検討する」と表明。３府県の感染状況などを分析し、慎重に判断する方針を示した。
　３知事は、年明け以降に新規感染者が急増し、医療提供体制が非常に逼迫（ひっぱく）していると説明。国と連携して対策を取ることが必要だと訴えた。（2021/01/09-16:45）

The governors of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures asked the Japanese government on Saturday to issue an emergency declaration for the western prefectures over the novel coronavirus.
   The governors made the request for the declaration based on the special measures law for the fight against the epidemic at an online meeting with economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who leads the state's efforts to contain the health crisis.
   "We will consider (the request) based on opinions from experts," Nishimura told reporters after the meeting, suggesting that the central government will make a careful examination while closely watching the regional coronavirus situations.
   The three governors told the minister that the number of new coronavirus infection cases started to surge after the turn of the year, putting the local medical systems under severe strain. They stressed the need for the prefectures to take necessary measures in cooperation with the central government.
   On Thursday, the Japanese government declared a fresh state of emergency for Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa, where the virus is spreading rapidly. Under the state of emergency, which took effect on Friday and will last until Feb. 7, the central government, among other things, is calling on eating and drinking establishments in the prefectures to shorten business hours.