Transport minister Chikage Ogi said Friday her ministry is considering having governmental financial institutions extend special emergency loans to airlines, travel agencies and other industries that face fallout from the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome that apparently started in China.
Ogi said she suggested the plan in an informal meeting with other ministers following Friday's Cabinet meeting, but added that the ministry has yet to determine which financial institutions will be able to extend emergency loans.
Speaking at a regular news conference after the Cabinet meeting, Ogi also said her ministry instructed airlines, travel agencies and shipping agents to inform their staff to take precautions against the disease.