緊急事態宣言の対象、さらに拡大も　未指定地域の協力金アップ―西村担当相

　西村康稔経済再生担当相は１３日の衆院議院運営委員会で、新型コロナウイルス感染拡大に伴う緊急事態宣言の対象地域をさらに広げる可能性に言及した。「（感染状況が最も深刻な）ステージ４の対策が必要という段階になれば、専門家の意見を聴いて適切に判断する」と表明。感染者数や病床の状況、各知事の意向を勘案する方針を示した。
　営業時間短縮要請に応じた事業者への協力金は、宣言対象地域で１日最大６万円、それ以外で同４万円と差が付けられている。これについて西村氏は「同等の支援策を講じることを考えたい」と述べ、宣言が出されていない道県での拡充を検討する意向を示した。国民民主党の浅野哲氏への答弁。（2021/01/13-19:03）

Japanese economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura on Wednesday hinted that the coronavirus state of emergency may be expanded further from 11 prefectures.
   "A decision will be made appropriately based on opinions collected from experts, if it becomes necessary to take measures required for a Stage 4 situation," Nishimura told the steering committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament.
   Stage 4 is the worst level of the country's four-tier coronavirus alert scale, indicating an explosive spread of the virus in an area.
   Nishimura said that the number of new infection cases, hospital bed situations and opinions of prefectural governors will be taken account of when the central government considers whether to expand the state of emergency further.
   On Wednesday, the government decided to add seven prefectures including Osaka to the area of the state of emergency, which has covered Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures so far. The expansion takes effect Thursday.