Japan lifting coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced on Thursday that the coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas will be lifted on Sunday, but warned against complacency.

“Following these developments, we’ve decided to lift the state of emergency in Tokyo and Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures as of March 21,” said Suga, Reuters reported.

Some restrictions will remain in the capital city, such as restaurants closing early, amid fears of a resurgence of cases.

There is pressure on the country to get coronavirus cases under control with Tokyo set to host the Summer Olympics beginning in July.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo is not expected to allow foreign fans at the Olympics, causing the country to lose out on millions of dollars.

Japan has had over 450,000 reported cases of the coronavirus and almost 9,000 deaths. 

“The first drop of vaccines for [Tokyo’s] 14 million has only just begun, and until we’re done, we have to fight with our bare hands,” Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa said.