Abe Declares State of Emergency Across Japan Amid COVID-19 Spread

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency on the 16th for all 47 prefectures (都道府縣, metropolitan and prefectural governments) in relation to the confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Japanese media reported that the Japanese government’s policy was decided as such on this day.

Prime Minister Abe had previously declared a state of emergency limited to seven metropolitan governments including Tokyo on the 7th. However, as confirmed COVID-19 cases rapidly increased outside these areas, the state of emergency declaration was expanded to cover the entire Japanese archipelago.

The period of application for the state of emergency is until the 6th of next month, the same as for the previously declared seven regions.

According to NHK’s tally, Japan’s cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 9,800 as of the afternoon of the 16th, and it is expected to surpass South Korea within a few days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.