The Japanese capital Tokyo considers an extension of the state of emergency in the prefecture necessary.
The governor reports that mutations of the coronavirus are becoming dominant, and as a result, more and more younger people are testing positive for the virus.
Tokyo is one of the four Japanese prefectures that has been in a state of emergency since April 25 due to an increase in the number of infections. This measure will last until the beginning of next week. Tokyo will discuss an extension of the state of emergency with the central government, including banning the public from sports games and closing major shopping centres.
Japan hoped to contain the fourth wave with a “short and strong” state of emergency, but it has not yet had the desired effect. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is therefore calling on residents to restrict their movements further. In the run-up to the Olympic Games in the Japanese capital, which starts at the end of July, there are serious concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
Tokyo authorities fear the current wave will widen from the third wave in January. In early April, the infections in Japan increased again. 4000 to 5000 new cases are now regularly registered per day. In February and March, there were no more than 2000 on most days.
