Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a press conference at the his official residence in Tokyo on January 13, 2021 stating that 11 of the country’s 47 prefectures will be under the state of emergency. TOKYO — Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency to seven more prefectures Wednesday, affecting more than half the population amid a surge in infections across the country.
Prime Minister Yoshide Suga also said Japan will suspend fast-track entry exceptions for business visitors or others with residency permits, fully banning foreign visitors while the state of emergency is in place.
Suga’s announcement comes less than a week after he declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and three nearby prefectures. The new declaration, which adds seven other prefectures in western and central Japan, takes effect Thursday and lasts until Feb. 7.
“The severe situation is continuing, but these measures are indispensable in turning the tide for the better,” Suga said at a news conference, bowing as he sought understanding from the public.
He said he put the seven prefectures in urban areas under the state of emergency to prevent infections from spilling over into smaller cities where medical systems are more vulnerable.
The government is asking bars and restaurants in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Tochigi prefectures to close by 8 p.m., employers to have 70% of their staff work from home and residents in the affected areas avoid going out for nonessential purposes.
Suga has been criticized as being to slow to act as the country’s reported coronavirus infections and deaths roughly doubled over the past month to about 300,000 and 4,100 respectively. Both states of […]
Click here to view full original news page at chicago.suntimes.com
Be part of our community, share and discuss all virus outbreak matters.
What’s the difference between viral shedding and reinfection with COVID-19?- Still going to the grocery store? With new variants spreading, it’s probably time to stop.
- CDC, states’ reporting of virus test data causes confusion
- AGFC on lookout for new rabbit virus
- 6th Las Cruces nursing home sees virus infection as Doña Ana County sets weekly new case record
- COVID-19 Virus Found at Reopened Businesses, Including Shopping Malls, Indoor Restaurants, Stores
- Brazil hospitals ‘lack oxygen’ for virus patients
- Popular agritourism business in Michigan dismantled by mosquito-borne EEE virus
- Like wildfire: Masks again vital to stemming virus spread
- Coronavirus: How ‘three musketeers’ helped Georgia fight virus
- Hospitalized With COVID-19, Chehalis City Councilor Urges Residents to Take Virus Seriously
- Covid live updates: WHO probes virus origins, Vaccine access expands
