Japan had hoped a "short and powerful" emergency would contain a fourth wave of infections just under three months before Tokyo is set to host the Olympic Games from July 23. "Based on the analyses from various angles, my thinking is that we need an extension of the state of emergency," Koike said. "The Tokyo 2020 Games are a highly significant event that serves as a beacon of hope for the world." Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura will also seek an extension from the central government. "I think we cannot help but to ask for an extension," Yoshimura told a meeting of experts, adding that the region's medical system was being strained to its limit.

Source: The Edge Markets May 06, 2021 07:17 UTC