WORLD / ASIA-PACIFIC
Japan’s regions push to end state of emergency
Published: Feb 24, 2021 04:03 PM

People cross a street in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area, on Sunday. Japan has reported more than 404,000 COVID-19 infections as of Sunday, with 6,373 deaths. The Japanese government planned to extend its state of emergency for another month to March 7. Photo: AFP

Regional Japanese governments have requested emergency pandemic measures be lifted ahead of the March 7 scheduled end as new COVID-19 cases trend lower, the country's economy minister said, adding the government will seek expert views before agreeing.

A surge in cases prompted Japan to announce a state of emergency in January for 11 prefectures, requesting residents to curtail activities and businesses to shorten operating hours.

The state of emergency would likely be lifted in stages though businesses would be asked to continue closing early, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on Wednesday.

Japan recorded 1,083 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, national broadcaster NHK reported, compared with a peak of almost 8,000 on January 8. New infections in Tokyo have fallen to levels not seen since November.

Three western prefectures along with three more in the central and southern parts of Japan have requested the state of emergency be lifted as early as this week, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said late on Tuesday.

Tokyo and neighboring prefectures will remain under the state of emergency, Nishimura said.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was expected to meet government ministers on Wednesday to discuss lifting the state of emergency in the six regional prefectures, with a final decision expected on Friday, Jiji news reported.

Reuters