The Japanese government will scale back its call for reducing interpersonal contact by 80 pct, while extending a state of emergency over the novel coronavirus, Jiji Press learned on Saturday.

The government will end the call outside Tokyo, Osaka and 11 other prefectures specified as needing special caution, according to a government source.

Social distancing measures "will be relaxed gradually from next Thursday in areas other than the specified prefectures," economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a press conference on Saturday.

The government is slated to decide Monday to extend the nationwide state of emergency, currently set to end on Wednesday. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold a press conference on the matter at 6 p.m. (9 a.m. GMT) Monday.

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 the specified prefectures while relaxing stay-at-home and business shutdown requests elsewhere in the country.

Even in the specified prefectures, the government will seek reopening of some facilities including schools, parks and libraries.

JIJI Press