Tokyo and Osaka call for extension of virus emergency
The Peninsula
Tokyo wants to extend a virus emergency currently in place and will soon seek approval for the move from Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in a bid to stem a surge in infections ahead of the capital hosting the Olympics from July.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters Thursday the extension is needed, and people’s movement must continue to be restrained. The central government is considering extending the state of emergency for Tokyo and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo by about two weeks or a month, Kyodo News reported, citing several unidentified administration officials. The major metro area of Osaka, where infection numbers have reached record highs in recent days, is also set to seek an extension, with Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura saying he has no other option.More Related News