Health minister Katsunobu Kato was put on the defensive Wednesday as he drew heavy flak from opposition lawmakers over the government's response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.
In a Lower House Budget Committee session, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Edano vowed that the opposition will cooperate with the government’s containment efforts but railed against Kato over the quarantine measures aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The opposition party leader questioned the government's decision to free passengers last week after a 14-day quarantine period and allow them to return to their homes using public transportation. Two Japanese people who had tested negative and disembarked were later confirmed to be infected in Tochigi and Tokushima prefectures.
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