(Bloomberg) -- The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet slipped slightly while the number of people who disapproved of its performance was unchanged, according to the latest poll conducted by local newspaper Mainichi on Saturday.
The cabinet's approval rating dipped to 52% from 54% on Dec. 18 and the percentage of those who disapproved remained at 36%, the paper reported. When asked about the spread of omicron coronavirus variant in Japan, 46% of those surveyed said they were fearful but not as concerned about it as they were with the delta strain, and 34% of respondents said they were very fearful, according to Mainichi.
The polling comes as coronavirus cases surge to a record across the country. Tokyo found 11,227 infections on Saturday. Authorities have placed curbs on 13 prefectures, including Tokyo and its surrounding areas, from Friday to Feb. 13. Shimane prefecture may also request that the national government include it in areas with restrictions, according to local broadcaster NHK.
Tokyo to Press Bars to Close Early as Covid Cases Hit Record
Of those surveyed, 31% said they approved of the administration's coronavirus measures, declining 15 percentage points from the previous poll, the paper reported. Those who did not approve of the government's actions rose 13 percentage points to 39%, according to the Mainichi.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
