TOKYO (JAPAN) – To curb further spread of the pandemic Japan is expected to extend a state of emergency on Tuesday for Tokyo and other areas, said sources.
Decisions will be made by authorities after meeting of its experts panel on Tuesday. The emergency period in prefectures including the Tokyo area is expected to continue for another month, the sources said.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday.
Last month government had declared a one-month state of emergency, due to end on Sunday, for 11 areas including Tokyo and its neighbouring prefectures. However, they may also consider lifting the state of emergency in some less-populated areas such as Tochigi Prefecture, which has seen a decline in cases, according to local media.
Suga has launched a slew of measures to contain a third wave of infections especially since his government continues to remain determined that the Olympics will go ahead as planned on July 23.
But support for his administration has weakened over unhappiness with its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which critics have called too slow and inconsistent.
A Nikkei newspaper poll showed 90% of respondents favoured extending the emergency period in areas where it is implemented.
Japan has had a total of 390,687 coronavirus cases and 5,766 deaths, public broadcaster NHK said. In Tokyo, new cases totalled 633 on Sunday, below 1,000 for the third consecutive day.
Separately, the lower house is expected to pass on Monday a revision to the coronavirus special measures law, followed by upper house approval on Wednesday, NHK said. The revision would toughen regulations and allow authorities to levy fines on those who break the law.
