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Japan extends COVID-19 emergency curbs in Tokyo and other areas

People walk in Shibuya shopping area, during a state of emergency amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Tokyo, Japan August 29, 2021. (Reuters/Androniki Christodoulou)

Japan extended emergency COVID-19 restrictions on Thursday (Sept. 9) in Tokyo and other regions until the end of this month to curb infections and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Announcing the extension, ratified earlier by an advisory panel, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said it was needed to shore up a medical system still stretched by serious cases even though new infections were falling and vaccinations were rising.

"Inoculation of all those who wish to be vaccinated will be completed in October or November," Suga told reporters. "And from then, we will be able to ease restrictions by using proof of vaccination or testing results."

Japan has been struggling with a fifth wave of the virus and last month extended its long-running curbs until Sept. 12 to cover about 80% of its population.

The number of severe cases and the strain on the medical system have not eased sufficiently in Tokyo and surrounding areas to allow restrictions to be lifted. The measures will now stretch until Sept. 30, including for Osaka in the west.

Japan's emergency curbs have centered on asking restaurants to close early and refrain from serving alcohol. Residents are being urged to work from home as much as possible and refrain from travel.

Some signs of improvement around Japan mean two prefectures out of 21 will move from the state of emergency measures to more targeted restrictions, and a number of other prefectures will remove all curbs.

"I believe we're starting to see results, but it's still too early to lower our guard," Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.

(Source: Reuters)

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