Japan has extended the state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic by nearly a month.
According to Yasutoshi Nishimura, the government has extended the nationwide state of emergency until May 31, as new infection cases are recorded daily.
The government is considering lifting the emergency “if certain conditions are met,” Nishimura said.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has scheduled a news conference later in the day to report the decision.
In 24 hours, Japan on Sunday reported 199 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.
So far, the country has confirmed 15,771 cases, including 712 on a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo in February, and 548 deaths.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK