Japan could lift state of emergency on Thursday

NHK reported that the Japanese government will decide next Thursday whether to withdraw the state of national emergency in more than 30 prefectures in the country. However, NHK added that even if the state of emergency is lifted in these prefectures, Tokyo and some others will remain in the same condition.


Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that he will consult a panel of experts, including economists, before making a decision. Japan recently reported 15,798 positive cases of COVID-19 (including 712 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship) and 621 deaths (including 13 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship),

Abe declared a state of emergency for the prefectures of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka for the period from April 7 to May 6. Kyoto Prefecture Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki asked the Japanese government on April 10 to add Kyoto to the state of emergency. In counterpart, the governor of Aichi prefecture Hideaki Ohmura, in addition to requesting it, also independently declared a state of emergency in his prefecture on April 17.

Subsequently, Abe declared April 16 a national state of emergency after a meeting with a panel of experts on the subject, and declared the end date to May 6. However, last week this end date was extended to May 31.