Japanese Media: "Abe Firm on Extending State of Emergency Declaration Until the 31st" (Breaking News)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to extend the state of emergency related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) nationwide until the end of this month, local Japanese media reported on the 3rd.

According to local media such as NHK on the same day, Prime Minister Abe met with Economic Revitalization Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Health, Labour and Welfare Minister Katsunobu Kato and agreed to extend the state of emergency, which was set to expire on the 6th, until the 31st. It was also reported that they plan to seek opinions from an advisory committee composed of experts on this plan.

Kyodo News also reported, citing government officials, that Prime Minister Abe has begun coordinating to extend the new deadline of the state of emergency to the 31st of this month.

The Japanese government declared a state of emergency on the 7th of last month for Tokyo and seven prefectures where COVID-19 cases surged, and on the 16th of the same month, expanded the state of emergency to all 47 prefectures nationwide.

With the declaration of the state of emergency, requests to refrain from going out and restrictions or instructions on the use of entertainment facilities have been issued throughout the Japanese archipelago.

The Japanese government plans to make a final decision on the extension of the state of emergency at the COVID-19 task force meeting on the 4th.

Meanwhile, on the same day, 191 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Japan, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 15,780.

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