A task force set up by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday approved a 430 billion yen ($4.1 billion) package that includes support for small to medium-size businesses hit by the coronavirus outbreak, amid criticisms over his handling of the crisis.
Among other relief, the package also includes subsidies for parents who need to take time off work due to school closures, funding for development of virus vaccines and test kits and for extra production of protective masks, banning of their resale.
Abe kept in place a government request for the public and organizers to cancel, postpone and scale down events for 10 more days to help reduce the risks of the virus spreading further.