Covid-19 coronavirus cases continue to rise in Tokyo at an alarming pace, with the city recently recording more than 200 cases per day for four days straight. Many of these cases have been attributed to the increased testing in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, Tokyo’s highly populated nightlife districts. To deal with the situation, the local government of Shinjuku ward plans to hand out ¥100,000 to residents infected with coronavirus.
According to The Japan Times, the purpose of this relief money is to aid Shinjuku residents who are unable to work while receiving treatment. Currently, those who have tested positive for coronavirus and had their addresses registered in the ward on or before April 7 (the date the Japanese government declared a state of emergency in Tokyo) are eligible for the money. The fund will draw from the fiscal 2020 supplementary budget and Shinjuku ward has already allocated at least ¥100 million for the program.
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