TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on the public again on Tuesday to avoid going out for nonessential purposes as the new coronavirus is still spreading across the country two weeks after he declared a state of emergency.

"I ask for further cooperation in order to reduce interpersonal contact by at least 70 percent, or possibly 80 percent," Abe told reporters at the prime minister's office.

"As (contact) has not been reduced sufficiently in some regions, I want people in these areas to promote teleworking and other measures," he said.

Referring to the Golden Week holiday period from late April to early May, Abe urged the public to avoid traveling to rural areas, including family trips.

The government expanded its state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak to the entire country on Thursday. The virus emergency was initially declared on April 7 for Tokyo and six prefectures.

JIJI Press