Maritime transportation to Japan will be allowed to continue as usual following the Japanese government’s announcement of a state of emergency to counter the spread of Covid-19.

Transportation has been designated as an essential public service and will be exempt from the measures, which have seen widespread business closures in the country's seven major cities and prefectures in the country.

The state of emergency announced by prime minister Shinzo Abe today is to be applied in Japan’s two largest cities, Tokyo and Osaka, as well as in the prefectures of Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Fukuoka and Hyogo.

The move stops short of a full lockdown, which is considered to be against the Japan's constitution. But citizens are expected to remain indoors and exercise social distancing.

Japan’s international ports are to remain open and ferries will continue to sail.

The emergency law has exempted maritime and road haulage services because they are essential for the national economy and the transportation of emergency medical supplies and other materials.

Japan has been one of the more relaxed countries concerning crew exchanges since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis. Shipowners reported recently they faced no obstacles when taking delivery of purchased ships in the country.

It is understood that crew exchanges will still be allowed in Japan following a 14-day quarantine period.

The emergency measures require that business operate remotely wherever possible. The leading so-called ‘big three’ Japanese shipping companies have already responded ahead of the state of emergency declaration.

Most of Mitsui OSK Lines' (MOL) workforce has been operating remotely for several weeks. Nippon Yusen Kaisha said it had increased the number of days its employees could work from home from three days to five days.

K Line said it would apply remote working to all its offices in the seven designated regions.

The company said: “ The K Line Group will implement every possible measure to ensure the health and safety of our employees as first priority, and taking appropriate action following government guidelines.”