So far, eight prefectures in Japan remain in a state of emergency, and the government estimates a total of 0.5 or fewer new positive cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 characters in a week to be considered for the declaration to be lifted at the prefecture. That is why Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo, having reached this requirement, are being considered, while Tokyo and Kanagawa have not.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in the prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka on April 7, with a deadline of May 6. Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki asked the Japanese government on April 10 to add Kyoto to the list. By contrast, the governor of Aichi prefecture Hideaki Ohmura independently declared a state of emergency on April 17.
However, Abe declared on April 16 a national state of emergency with a deadline of May 6, after a session with a panel of experts on the subject. The government later extended the duration of the state of emergency to May 31, but last week lifted the declaration in 39 of 47 prefectures, subtracting Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, Hyogo and Hokkaido.
As of Tuesday, Japan reported 16,365 positive cases of the virus (not counting 712 cases from the "Diamond Princess" cruise), and 763 deaths (not including 13 from the "Diamond Princess" cruise).
© NHK
