Rats Become A New Problem In Tokyo During The COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic raises new problems in Japan. The reason is that along with reduced community activity outside the home, animals such as rats roam freely on the city streets.

Reuters proclaimed, rats roam the streets and alleys of the Kabukicho area, Tokyo. Because the area which is famous for its many bars and nightlife spots has been quiet from activities, since the Tokyo City government imposed physical distancing rules during the COVID-19 emergency response period.

"The restaurant is closed and the garbage is empty, then they (the rats) look for food," said Tsutomu Tanikawa Rat Extermination Association official, Tuesday, April 28.

According to experts, these rats start to roam and come out of the sewers at night. These rats expand their forage on deserted city streets, due to reduced human activity.

"The number of people is getting smaller, and when the rats get hungry, they become less aware of humans. This is not just a Japanese problem, it happens all over the world," he added.

Actually, the Japanese government does not impose strict lockdown rules like some other countries. It's just that Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe, raised the status for seven regions in Japan, including Tokyo in the COVID-19 pandemic emergency category.

This forces residents not to move outside the home. Regional officials have also ordered businesses outside of critical sectors related to handling COVID-19 to be temporarily closed.

"We need to look at this (rat problem) more deeply to understand the (COVID-19) situation," Kitakyushu City health official, Takao Koezuka.

Rats are running loose in Kyushu due to deserted streets. They normally scurry between buildings amongst restaurants # ど ぶ ネ ズ ミ # 九州 # コ ロ ナ #coronavirus # COVID19 #japan #rats # コ ロ ナ ウ イ ル ス pic.twitter.com/wl4VAwQbHn

- Steven - ス テ ィ ー ブ ン (@EbisuHapa) April 27, 2020

The problem of rats roaming the city streets is also of particular concern to Japanese health authorities. Because it is feared that the rats can carry disease. Even so, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not shown real evidence that animals can be carriers of the coronavirus.

Concerns about swarms of mice also caught the attention of traders at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. Because the market conditions that are being renovated can be a nesting place for rats.

There is also concern that this situation will spread to other places, including the elite shopping area in Ginza. This also sparked the idea of a large scale pest eradication operation, in order to reduce the number of rats.