Japan’s state of emergency is extended
The government of Japan announced Tuesday that it will expand health emergency due to coronavirus to seven other regions to combat a strong outbreak of infections, one week before the start of the Paralympic Games.
The emergency measure, which bans the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants and forces them to close at 8 p.m., is in effect in Tokyo and five other regions, and was scheduled to end on August 31. But the government will now extend them to other areas and maintain them throughout the country. until September 12.
The contagion “is spreading across Japan on a scale we have not seen before”said Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of the virus response.
Japan has had a small outbreak of covid-19 compared to other countries, despite not having imposed confinements.
However, its vaccination program started late and slower than other developed countries, and only 37% of its population is inoculated.
In the last days, Japan reported more than 20,000 daily cases of covid-19, a record for the country.
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