Coronavirus: Japan declares state of emergency in Tokyo just months before Olympics

Tokyo 2020 president insists Games will not be cancelled despite surging Covid cases

Japan has declared a state of emergency in Tokyo amid surging coronavirus cases just three months ahead of the Olympics ( Carl Court/Getty Images)

Japan has declared a third state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas amid a coronavirus resurgence just three months ahead of the Olympics.

The move is expected to be “short and intensive” to stop people from travelling and spreading the virus for about a fortnight during Japan’s “Golden Week” of holidays from late April until early May.

It comes after experts and local leaders raised concerns that ongoing semi-emergency measures had failed and tougher steps were urgently needed.

Prime minister Yoshihide Suga announced the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from 25 April until 11 May.

However, Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto insisted the Games would not be cancelled.

Under the measures, restaurants, bars and karaoke parlours serving alcohol will be forced to close, as will shopping centres, department stores, theme parks, theatres and museums, while big sporting events will be held without spectators.

Restaurants that do not serve alcohol and public transportation services will be asked to close early.

Schools will stay open, but universities will be advised to return to online classes.

Past emergency measures, issued a year ago and then in January, authorised only non-mandatory requests.

However, the government has since toughened a law on anti-virus measures to allow authorities to issue binding orders for non-essential businesses to shorten their hours or close in exchange for compensation for those who comply and penalties for violators.

Mask-wearing, staying home and other measures for the general public remain non-mandatory requests, and experts are concerned about whether they will be followed.

Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee president Seiko Hashimoto has insisted the Games will not be cancelled (Kim Kyung-Hoon/AP)

But economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura warned breaching the restrictions would carry penalties in some cases.

He added: “We absolutely have to limit the movement of people, and we have to do it decisively.

“We need powerful, short and focused measures.”

Japan has avoided an explosive spread of the pandemic experienced by many countries.

There have been about 550,000 cases and less than 10,000 deaths – significantly lower numbers than in other large economies.

But the latest rise in infections has stoked alarm, with a surge in a mutant variant and a shortage of medical staff and hospital beds in some areas.

Mr Suga said Japan would take measures to ensure it could safely hold the Olympics this summer.

Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto also said organisers were not considering cancelling.

She told a news conference on Friday: “We, as Tokyo 2020, continue to wish for the swift return to normalcy and will continue to work closely with the relevant parties to make sure a safe and secure Olympics can happen.”

Additional reporting by agencies