TOKYO, April 18 (CNA) - Japan will offer a cash payment of 100,000 yen (US$930) to every resident, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday (Apr 17), as measures to contain the coronavirus decimate the world's third-top economy.
"We are moving quickly to deliver cash to all people," Abe said in a televised news conference to explain his decision to expand a state of emergency nationwide.
An initial plan to provide three times that amount to households, which have seen incomes slashed because of the coronavirus, was ditched and Abe apologised for the confusion.
A supplementary budget had detailed payouts of 300,000 yen to households with incomes hit by the outbreak, but pressure mounted on Abe, some from within his own party, to step up the help with a payment of 100,000 yen for all citizens.
Such a switch would triple the cost to the government to 12 trillion yen. Earlier, Finance Minister Taro Aso said the government hoped to start payments in May.
Japan has seen relatively few cases and deaths compared to hotspots in Europe and the United States but a recent spike in Tokyo - which logged a daily record 201 new cases on Friday - has sparked concern.
Friday's additions bring the number of cases in the capital city to 2,796, making it the worst-hit in Japan. Total infections across the country stand at more than 9,000, with 190 deaths, according to a tally by national broadcaster NHK.
Japan's Cabinet Office, which helps to coordinate policy, reported its third case of an official testing positive for the virus. The victim, who was not identified, is in his 50s and works on the council for science, technology and innovation.
He was confirmed to have the virus on Thursday, an official said. No ministers had been in close contact, usually defined as within two metres, since the man showed symptoms on Apr 10, the official said, meaning they were not candidates for testing.
Two officials who had come within two metres of him were staying at home, the Cabinet office said, adding that both have yet to be tested.
