Japan Not Yet Ready to Declare Virus Emergency, Abe Says
- Abe says mulling how to inform Diet ahead of any declaration
- Experts concerned about confirmed infections rising in Tokyo
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the country can hold off for now on declaring an emergency over the coronavirus pandemic despite an increase in infections that has raised worries of an explosive spread of the disease.
Abe told parliament Thursday he will work with local governments to tackle the infection as he decides whether to grant them more powers to control the flow of materials and people by declaring an emergency. He added that he was considering how to inform lawmakers before the emergency is declared.