Strain on medical and care systems leads Japan to extend state of emergency

y Barrier Free Japan with extracts from Jiji

September 9 2021

TOKYO – The Japanese government on Thursday extended its COVID-19 state of emergency in 19 prefectures, including Tokyo, until the end of this month due to strained medical care systems. 

The state of emergency, currently in place in 21 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, was previously set to expire on Sunday. It will expire on Sunday, as previously scheduled, in Miyagi and Okayama, which will be placed in the less stringent pre-emergency stage.

While new COVID-19 cases are on the decline in the 19 prefectures, medical systems are still burdened there, government officials said.