US warns against travel to Japan as country grapples COVID surge

US says surge in coronavirus cases make it risky for citizens to travel to Japan, just two months before Olympics are due to start.

The United States has warned its citizens not to travel to Japan, blaming the growing risk of COVID-19 just two months before the long-delayed Tokyo Olympics are due to open. Japan has avoided the large-scale outbreaks suffered by many other nations, but a fourth wave has led to states of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and eight other regions across the nation of 125 million people. The government was leaning towards extending the emergency status – set to end on May 31 in most places, including Tokyo – several sources with knowledge of the decision told the Reuters news agency.