TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday unveiled a plan to extend the government’s state of emergency over the novel coronavirus for 10 prefectures to March 7, a ruling coalition official said Tuesday.
Suga conveyed the plan over the phone to Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the junior partner in the prime minister’s ruling coalition, Yamaguchi told a party meeting.
The state of emergency is in place for Tokyo and 10 other prefectures until Sunday. Of them, Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan, will be removed from the list.
The government’s coronavirus response task force is scheduled to meet Tuesday evening to finalize the extension.
JIJI Press