The government of Japan on Tuesday decided to lift the VOVID-19 state of emergency that is currently in effect in 19 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka as infections have declined from their peak.
When the measures end on Thursday, it will be the first time since April 4 that none of the country’s 47 prefectures has been under a state of emergency or quasi-state of emergency. It also plans to lift the priority measures that are currently in effect in eight other prefectures.
“The number of new coronavirus cases and patients with severe symptoms have dramatically declined,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a committee meeting at the House of Representatives. The meeting was held after his return from the United States.
Suga said the government will enhance social response to the spread of infections through vaccinations and health care system enhancement among other steps and work on balancing antivirus measures and restoring normal lives.
The government plans on easing restrictions in stages, with the governors of each prefecture deciding on which antivirus measures should remain and what should be lifted.
“Serving alcohol will be made possible, but governors will decide on that appropriately,” Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of Japan’s coronavirus response, said at an experts’ panel meeting, Kyodo news reported.
(With inputs from agencies)
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