Japan Expands Covid Emergency After Paralympics Open

COVID-19: In all, the planned move will mean 33 of Japan's 47 regions are under heightened anti-infection rules as the country hosts the Paralympics.

Japan's government on Wednesday decided to extend a virus state of emergency to eight more regions, a day after the Paralympic opening ceremony, as rising infections put hospitals under pressure. The step comes with summer school holidays ending and top infection experts suggesting delaying the start of classes to reduce contagion risks. The country has been recording more than 20,000 new cases a day in recent weeks as the more infectious Delta variant spreads. In urban areas like Tokyo, patients in serious condition have been left waiting for hours or travelling long distances in ambulances to find available hospital beds.