{"id":194731,"date":"2021-03-05T12:16:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T09:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/japan-to-extend-virus-state-of-emergency-in-tokyo-area\/"},"modified":"2021-03-05T12:16:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T09:16:14","slug":"japan-to-extend-virus-state-of-emergency-in-tokyo-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/japan-to-extend-virus-state-of-emergency-in-tokyo-area\/","title":{"rendered":"#Japan to extend virus state of emergency in Tokyo area"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Japan to extend virus state of emergency in Tokyo area<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\"COVID-19\"
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Japan will extend a coronavirus state of emergency in the Tokyo area by a fortnight, officials said Friday, less than five months ahead of the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics.\n <\/p>\n

The emergency measure, which primarily calls for bars and restaurants to close from 8pm, was supposed to end on Sunday and has been lifted early in other regions.<\/p>\n

It has brought infections down in the capital but the rate of decline is slowing and medics say hospitals in and around Tokyo are still under strain.<\/p>\n

The government’s top spokesman said the measure would continue in Tokyo and three surrounding regions until March 21\u2014four days before the nationwide Olympic torch relay kicks off in northeastern Fukushima.<\/p>\n

“Regarding the critical situation of the number of hospital beds available, it does not app<\/a>ear that pressure is easing in a stable manner,” Katsunobu Kato told reporters.<\/p>\n

The extension is expected to be officially announced on Friday evening.<\/p>\n

Despite a winter spike in COVID-19 cases, Japan has seen a comparatively small outbreak overall with just over 8,000 deaths.<\/p>\n

Tokyo logged around 270 daily infections on average over the past week\u2014but experts warn of a potential resurgence after restrictions are lifted.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologised for the imminent extension but said the government was “doing its utmost to prevent a rebound” in infections.<\/p>\n

Japan’s response to the virus is in the spotlight as Tokyo prepares to host the postponed Olympics, due to start on July 23.<\/p>\n

The country launched its vaccination programme last month in a very limited fashion and has so far given first doses to around 39,000 healthcare workers.<\/p>\n

Tokyo 2020 organisers have outlined measures they say will keep the Game<\/a>s safe\u2014even without requiring participants to be vaccinated or quarantined on arrival.\n <\/p>\n\n

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Follow the latest news<\/a> on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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\n \u00a9 2021 AFP<\/p>\n

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Citation<\/strong>:
\n Japan to extend virus state of emergency in Tokyo area (2021, March 5)
\n retrieved 5 March 2021
\n from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2021-03-japan-virus-state-emergency-tokyo.html<\/p>\n

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