Japan has extended the state of emergency for Tokyo and other regions hard hit by coronavirus by one month until March.
The extended emergency period will be applicable to 10 prefectures including Osaka, Aichi, and Fukuoka.
Tochigi Prefecture will not be subjected to the extension and will have the state of emergency lifted on February 7, as cases there have subsided markedly.
The news also holds importance due to the Olympics, scheduled to be held in July and August.
The Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 will be held from 23 July until 8 August 2021.
More information here: https://t.co/ST25uXKglE pic.twitter.com/sQo1TIcH5O
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 30, 2020
“We will make sure the Games will be held no matter how the COVID-19 situation will be. We go beyond the discussion of whether we hold (the Games) or not hold. We are to come up with ‘new’ Olympics,” CNN quoted Mori as saying in a news conference.
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The Tokyo Olympics were postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Games are now scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8 while the Paralympics will take place from August 24 to September 5.
5⃣0⃣ Days To Go to the commencement of the #OlympicTorchRelay for the Olympic Games #Tokyo2020 #HopeLightsOurWay 🔥 @Olympics pic.twitter.com/XXdIei0uDr
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) February 3, 2021
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach had put all speculations to rest, asserting that they are “fully concentrated on and committed” to stage the Tokyo Olympics.
“We are fully concentrated on and committed to the successful and safe delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, starting on 23 July with the Olympic Games and 24 August with the Paralympic Games,” IOC’s official website had quoted Bach as saying.
Japan reported 1,792 new COVID-19 infections on Monday evening, bringing the nation’s tally of cases to almost 400,000, with the death toll approaching 6,000.