Japan PM Suga plans fresh emergency curbs amid surge in COVID cases – Reuters

Japan PM Suga plans fresh emergency curbs amid surge in COVID cases – Reuters

Passersby wearing protective face mask walk past a concourse amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan April 16, 2021. Picture taken by slow shutter speed. REUTERS/Stringer The Japanese government plans to declare a state of emergency for the third time for Tokyo and three other prefectures following a resurgence of new COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday.Suga told reporters the government will formally declare the state of emergency after a meeting with experts to be held on Friday, when asked when the decision will be made.While Suga did not specify the length of the state of emergency, public broadcaster NHK said the government is considering imposing the curbs from April 25 to May 11.Suga also did not give any details on what steps the new state of emergency could entail. But media reports say they could include stronger steps than those issued in January, such as requests for bars and department stores to close and for events to be conducted without spectators.Some analysts said another state of emergency could push Japan back into recession if retailers are asked to close during the Golden Week holidays, which start next week and run through early May."The