As omicron instances have increased and threatened to disrupt vital services such as hospitals and schools, Japan’s government wants to declare pre-emergency status for the majority of the country and extend COVID-19 restrictions.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Monday that anti-virus measures will be tightened in 18 more prefectures through February 20, ranging from Hokkaido in the north to Osaka and Kyoto in western Japan. This will be in addition to locations such as Tokyo, Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima, where comparable limitations are already in place or will be expanded.