TOKYO (REUTERS) – Support for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Cabinet tumbled nearly 13 points due to dissatisfaction with the government’s response to a resurgence in the coronavirus, a weekend Kyodo News survey showed.

Support for Mr Suga’s Cabinet dropped to 50.3 per cent from 63.0 per cent a month earlier, with the disapproval rating rising to 32.8 per cent from 19.2 per cent, the Kyodo survey showed.

About 48 per cent of respondents want the government to temporarily halt its “Go To Travel” subsidy campaign due to concerns the tourism programme was increasing the spread of the virus, while a separate Yomiuri newspaper survey showed 57 per cent want the campaign suspended.

Some medical groups and experts say the travel campaign has fuelled a third wave of coronavirus cases. But Mr Suga on Friday defended the programme, saying it was aimed at helping small businesses in the hospitality sector get through tough times.

Japan has reported around 163,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and 2,300 deaths.

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