The Japanese government decided Sunday on a policy to extend the ongoing state of emergency over the outbreak of the new coronavirus through the end of May.

The government's coronavirus response headquarters will meet Monday to officially decide on the extension beyond the current expiration date of Wednesday.

The extended emergency declaration will cover all 47 prefectures of the country.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and health minister Katsunobu Kato met at the prime minister's office on Sunday. After analyzing the situation of COVID-19 infections in the country, they agreed that it would be appropriate to extend the emergency declaration through the end of this month.

Abe will hold a press conference from 6 p.m. (9 a.m. GMT) Monday to seek public understanding about the emergency state extension aimed at containing the virus outbreak.

In line with the extension, the government will revise its basic policy on responding to the coronavirus epidemic. The revised policy is expected to call for maintaining the target of cutting interpersonal contact by 80 pct in 13 specified prefectures that need special caution, while partially relaxing stay-at-home and business shutdown requests elsewhere in the country.

JIJI Press