Japan expands state of emergency due to COVID surge

On Jul 31, 2021

Japan has expanded the state of emergency to three prefectures near Olympic host Tokyo and the western prefecture of Osaka, as COVID-19 cases spike in the capital and around the country, overshadowing the Summer Games.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called on the citizens to watch the Olympics at home at a news conference announcing the extension of coronavirus restrictions in several areas on Friday as the Delta variant drives infection numbers to record highs.

Emergency measures already in place in Tokyo will be extended until the end of August, after the Olympics and well into the Paralympic Games which start on August 24.

Tokyo has reported a record increase in cases for three days in a row, including 3,865 on Thursday and 3,300 on Friday. The cases have doubled since last week, although officials say the surge is unrelated to the Olympics. (Reuters)