With Friday's enactment of a revised law, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe can declare a state of emergency for the coronavirus outbreak. But will he actually take this step?

Based on recent statements made by Abe and other government officials, an emergency declaration does not seem imminent.

Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who was put in charge of the legal revision, has called an emergency declaration "a last resort," acknowledging that a series of measures that would be taken under it to fight the virus would restrict people's rights.