Omi: State Of Emergency Could Be Extended
The head of the Japanese government's expert panel on the coronavirus says the third state of emergency could be extended unless certain conditions are met.
On Friday morning, the panel approved a government plan to issue the state of emergency for Tokyo, and three western prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo and Kyoto from Sunday through May 11. It would come into effect just in time for the upcoming holiday period.
After the meeting, the head of the panel, Omi Shigeru, told reporters that no one raised objection to the necessity of taking tougher measures especially in view of the spread of mutant strains of the virus.
But he added that the state of emergency will not be lifted automatically after May 11.
He said the panel is in agreement that one of the minimum requirements for lifting it is that the infection situation has improved to at least Stage Three -- the second highest on the government's four-level scale. He said otherwise the declaration could be extended beyond that date.
Omi said that should the restrictions be eased all at once, it would spur movement of people. He said there will be no lifting of the state of emergency unless thorough anti-infection measures are taken.