Japan, the coronavirus and applied linguistics

Yes, I know, an intriguing title. So read on, dear reader, read on.
As of today, April 4th, Japan has 3,139 cases with 77 deaths. What Japan doesn't have as of today is a national lock down, or even a Tokyo lock down, where the majority of new cases are occurring. Nor does it have a strict policy of testing for the virus, enough face masks, or ICU beds for all the potential cases that are about to emerge.
What it does have, however, is a series of new geographical designations based on the number of cases. These are:
1: Warning of areas with increasing infections
2: Area with confirmed infections
3: Uninfected areas
So, unlike other countries who are combating the virus with strict social isolation policies, and legally enforceable stay-at-home rules, Japan is fighting the virus with, yes, ... semantics!
Oh, how us Applied Linguists feel so emboldened. Finally recognition of the vital role we have to play in stopping this pandemic.
This is as good as an example you will ever get of the perils of political administrators deciding health policy. Four days ago the President of the Japanese Medical Association called on the government to officially declare a state of emergency, warning that if the number of daily cases in Tokyo reaches 100, "it is highly likely that the medical system will collapse".
Today, the number of new cases in Tokyo reached 118.
I never studied political policy making but in years to come they are going to have to introduce a new course, based on Japan's approach to the epidemic, called, 'Rolling the dice'.