Japan widens virus emergency for 7 more areas as cases surge

Japan is expanding a coronavirus state of emergency for seven more prefectures, affecting more than half the population as infections spread across the country

Virus Outbreak Japan Daily Life (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency for seven more prefectures Wednesday, affecting more than half the population as infections spread across the country

Prime Minister Yoshide Suga's announcement comes less than a week after his Jan. 7 emergency declaration for Tokyo and three nearby prefectures. The new declaration adds seven other prefectures in western and central Japan.

The measure, which focuses on requests for bars and restaurants to close at 8 p.m. and for people to avoid nonessential outings, takes effect Thursday and lasts until Feb. 7.

Suga has been criticized as being to slow to act as the country's number of reported coronavirus infections and deaths roughly doubled over the past month to about 300,000 and 4,100.