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TOKYO: Japan could lift the state of emergency in many regions this week if new coronavirus cases are under control, the economy minister said Monday (May 11), as he slowly moves toward a gradual return to economic activity.
The state of emergency, in effect since last month, gives governors of the 47 prefectures a stronger legal authority to urge people to stay in their homes and businesses to close, but there are no fines or arrests for non-compliance.
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Last week, Japan extended the state of emergency nationwide until the end of May, saying it would reevaluate the situation on May 14 and possibly lift the measures sooner for some prefectures.
Some non-core companies, even in the 13 worst-hit prefectures designated “special alert districts,” including Tokyo and Osaka, have already reopened despite the extension.
READ: Over 90% of Tokyo Hospital Beds for COVID-19 Patients Full
Japan has prevented an explosive outbreak of the new coronavirus, with some 15,800 domestic cases and 630 deaths. The number of new infections has been trending down over the past week.
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“We have been able to move steadily towards an end,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in a parliamentary session, referring to the epidemic.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the government could lift the emergency this week in regions that have seen a marked improvement, even among the 13 most affected prefectures, while warning that any change in trend could change that.
“As for the 34 prefectures … if we can confirm that the number of new infections remains stable, the uprising (of the state of emergency) will be in sight for many of those prefectures,” Nishimura said in a parliamentary session on Monday. .
He added that the emergency could be re-implemented if there were signs of excess after the uprising.
Abe warned of a long battle with the virus and asked the public to continue practicing social distancing. People would need to adopt a “new lifestyle” for the coronavirus era, he said, even after the state of emergency is lifted.
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