Japan to Lift Virus Emergency in Osaka Region as Cases Wane
- Tokyo and surrounding region stay under virus emergency
- Prime Minister Suga announces change for six regions
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Japan will lift states of emergency in its western regions that had been in place for more than six weeks, underscoring progress against a coronavirus surge that has battered the economy and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s approval rating.
Suga said Friday he was lifting the order at the end of February in six of the 10 areas under emergency restrictions, while leaving it in place in the Tokyo region. Along with areas in the Osaka region, Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures were among the other areas to be lifted early from the emergency, which is currently set to run through March 7.