TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures on Thursday as record numbers of new cases of COVID-19 strain the country's healthcare system. The measures take effect on Friday and are set to last at least until Feb. 7.
It is the second time for Japan to declare a state of emergency to deal with the pandemic. The last one, instated by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last spring, covered the whole country and lasted more than a month.
