Apr 23 (Japan Times) - The government is considering issuing a stronger shutdown request for pachinko parlors as some remain open — in defiance of existing requests by prefectural governors amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Experts are extremely concerned about dangers surrounding the current situation, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a news conference Tuesday.
“We’re preparing to take stronger measures,†he said.
The existing business closure requests are based on Article 24 of a special law in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The central government is now looking to beef them up under Article 45 of the same law, while consulting with related local authorities.
Under Article 45 of the law, authorities are allowed to make public the names of business operators refusing to meet requests.