Coronavirus: Japan PM irks public with ‘stay at home’ video lounging on sofa

'I can’t meet friends. No drinking party. However, these actions have surely saved many lives,' says Shinzo Abe

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a meeting of the task force set up to curtail the new coronavirus outbreak (AP)

Japan’s prime minister has drawn anger from worried citizens after Tweeting a video of himself relaxing at home on his sofa with his dog, drinking tea and reading a book in a bid to encourage people to stay at home as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

Shinzo Abe posted the video on Sunday in reponse to a post by popular musician Gen Hoshino who uploaded a video of himself singing about dancing indoors.

Mr Abe captioned the post: “I can’t meet friends. No drinking party. However, these actions have surely saved many lives. And, at this very moment, it will also reduce the burden on healthcare professionals who are struggling in the toughest settings. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Mr Hoshino’s song contains the line: “Let’s survive and dance, each one of us, wherever we are, all of us as one, let’s sing at home.”

The video has been criticised as 'tone deaf' at a time when many citizens are anxious about the potential impact of the pandemic and fear severe financial hardship if they cannot go to work.

The state of emergency was initially declared over major prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, but was expanded nationwide later. People have been asked to work from home and businesses to shut down.

A film critic and magazine founder, Tomohiro Machiyama, said: “What the prime minister needs to do to keep people at home is not show a video of him relaxing at home, but to protect people’s lives with benefits and compensation so they can stay at home with peace of mind.”

One person said in response to Mr Abe’s video: “I work at a supermarket. Coronavirus is occurring nearby. But I can’t take a break and I’m scared every day.”

Another person said: “It’s not tough not to be able to meet friends or to have a drinking party. It’s hard to get a test even though the coronavirus-like symptoms continue and I don’t know how long the symptoms will last.

“I feel like I have been abandoned by my country. Don’t forsake people in home remedies like me [sic].”

“At a time when people are fighting for survival, to show a video of such luxury… one can’t help but wonder, ‘who do you think you are?’” said another user.

The coronavirus outbreak has infected over 6,000 people in Japan, reported public broadcaster NHK on Saturday.