Table 1.
Key policy measures in Japan’s response to COVID-19, January–May, 2020.
| Periods | Date | Events/Policy Measures |
|---|---|---|
| (i) | 16 January 2020 | First COVID-19 patient reported |
| 28 January 2020 | COVID-19 cases without travel history to Wuhan reported | |
| 29 January 2020 | Wuhan repatriation mission started | |
| 30 January 2020 | COVID-19 response headquarters launched | |
| 3 February 2020 | Quarantine of the Diamond Princess started in Yokohama | |
| 17 February 2020 | Consultation criteria for COVID-19 testing published by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare | |
| (ii) | 25 February 2020 | “Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control” introduced, and cluster-response section launched by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare |
| 26 February 2020 | School closure in Hokkaido requested by Hokkaido governor | |
| 27 February 2020 | Nationwide school closure requested by PM Abe | |
| 28 February 2020 | Local state of emergency declared in Hokkaido | |
| 19 March 2020 | Local state of emergency lifted in Hokkaido | |
| 20 March 2020 | Nationwide school closure request cancelled | |
| 23 March 2020 | Lockdown in Tokyo suggested by Tokyo governor | |
| 24 March 2020 | Postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics announced | |
| 25 March 2020 | Explosive increase of COVID-19 cases declared by Tokyo governor | |
| (iii) | 7 April 2020 | State of emergency declared in seven prefectures |
| 16 April 2020 | State of emergency expanded to the entire nation | |
| 4 May 2020 | State of emergency period expanded until the end of May | |
| 14 May 2020 | State of emergency lifted in 39 prefectures | |
| 21 May 2020 | State of emergency lifted in three prefectures in Kansai region | |
| (iv) | 25 May 2020 | State of emergency lifted in all prefectures |