Tokyo To Lift Virus Alert After 22 Cases Reported
NHK has learned that the Tokyo metropolitan government is moving to lift its coronavirus alert after 22 new infections were confirmed on Thursday.
Tokyo officials now plan to further ease restrictions on business operations on Friday.
The metropolitan government issued a "Tokyo alert" on June 2, citing signs of an increase in infections.
But officials say the situation has improved recently. With 22 cases reported in the capital on Thursday, the daily average of newly confirmed cases during the past week is below 20.
This means that at least two of the three criteria for lifting the alert have been cleared.
The officials plan to seek experts' views before deciding to lift the alert, and advancing the easing of restrictions from step two to three on Friday.
Step three allows restaurants and pubs to open until midnight, and karaoke parlors to resume business.
