Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has announced that the government will temporarily suspend its "Go To Travel" campaign across the country from December 28 to January 11. The move is aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus infections during the year-end and New Year holidays.

Suga made the announcement at a government taskforce meeting on Monday evening.

An advisory panel of experts to Japan's health ministry warns that coronavirus infections are continuing to spread throughout the country.

In a meeting on Tuesday, the 15-member panel said the case count is increasing among older people in Tokyo, and some cases outside the capital may have been caused by people who traveled to and from Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo says his government plans to decide on Monday to extend the nationwide state of emergency for about a month.

The measure, taken in response to the coronavirus outbreak, is due to expire on Wednesday, May 6.

The Japanese government is hoping to limit the movement of people -- and the spread of the coronavirus -- during the spring holidays that begin at the end of this month. Many of Japan's biggest cities have been under a state of emergency for more than a week. It has now been expanded nationwide.

The government began by targeting the seven prefectures most endangered by the virus. But with infections on the rise, the central government is now encouraging every area to take stricter measures.

The Japanese government has expanded the state of emergency for the coronavirus outbreak to the entire country. The measure will remain in effect through May 6.

The government's coronavirus taskforce met at the prime minister's office late on Thursday.

The Japanese government is moving ahead with its decision to expand current areas under a state of emergency to everywhere across the country after it has received feedback from an advisory panel of experts.

The government declared the state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures last week to curb the spread of the coronavirus. It will be in place through May 6.

Japan's government has decided to expand the state of emergency for the coronavirus to the entire country.

The Japanese government will start mailing reusable cloth masks to all households in the country next week in a bid to address the continuing shortage.

Households in Tokyo and other urban areas will be the first to receive the masks as they have the largest number of coronavirus cases.