NHK


 

Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has declared the nation's third state of emergency to contain the coronavirus pandemic. It takes effect on Sunday in Tokyo and the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo.

The declaration will remain in effect for just over two weeks through May 11, and covers an annual weeklong holiday.

Bars and restaurants that serve alcohol or offer karaoke will be asked to close, as well as shopping malls and department stores.

Cases are surging in the affected prefectures, and officials are on alert for the spread of more contagious variants of the virus.

Suga said, "I decided to declare another state of emergency ahead of the weeklong holiday. We need to contain the spread of the virus by focusing on intensive measures over a short period of time."

The government has also decided to implement stricter measures in Ehime Prefecture without declaring a state of emergency.

Measures already in place in Miyagi and Okinawa prefectures have been extended until May 11 from the initially planned end date of May 5.

Suga suggested the government will work to have the country's elderly population vaccinated by the end of July. Officials plan to consider ways to help municipalities enhance the rollout.