Tokyo – The Japanese government is likely to extend a state of emergency by about two weeks in Tokyo and neighbouring Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures in a further bid to contain the coronavirus epidemic, the Mainichi newspaper reported on Saturday.
Under the state of emergency, the government has sought to reduce foot traffic by asking restaurants to shorten their hours and refrain from serving alcohol, and companies to let staff work from home more frequently.
The extension would take the curbs through the fourth week of September, which has two public holidays and during which many people make travel plans.
The government will also consider an extension in hard-hit areas in central and western Japan, including Aichi – home of Toyota Motor – and Osaka, the paper said, adding a decision would likely be made in the middle of next week.
It will consider downgrading or lifting states of emergency in prefectures that have seen hospital beds free up to non-critical levels, the Mainichi said.
