TOKYO, April 7 — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday declared a month-long state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures in an effort to curb the Covid-19 outbreak, Xinhua news agency reported.
The declaration will come into effect until May 6. Specifically, it covers the capital and other major prefectures including Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka.
Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency, citing Japan-based news agency Kyodo reported that the new measures will empower local governors to take stronger preventive steps, asking citizens to stay at home and restricting the operation of schools and other facilities.
However, violators of the order will not face a legal penalty.
"I decided to declare a state of emergency because we have reached a point in which the spread of infections has become rapid and widespread across the country and is threatening to have a grave impact on people's lives and the economy," Abe said.
Last month, Japan's parliament approved changes to a law that empowered Abe to declare an emergency if Covid-19 continued to spread.
Japan has over 3,900 confirmed cases of virus, while 92 have died.
— Bernama
