TOKYO: The central government is planing to extend the state of emergency covering Tokyo and other regions hit by coronavirus outbreaks until March 7, The Japan Times reported.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he will make a final decision on the extension after hearing from an expert panel on Tuesday.
“Coronavirus cases are declining, but we must remain vigilant for a while longer,” Prime Minister Suga told reporters following a cabinet meeting on Monday.
According to an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures will remain under the state of emergency, as will Aichi, Gifu, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.
The emergency has helped halt a rapid acceleration of virus cases, which hit records in early January and raised worries of ripping through the developed world’s oldest population.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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