An extension of a state of emergency declaration in Tokyo, Osaka and other major urban areas is reportedly under consideration by the Japanese government Wednesday because of a relentless rise in local COVID-19 cases.
If the declaration is extended, the move could cast further doubt on the success of the upcoming Summer Olympics.
Local newspaper Yomiuri said Wednesday that officials are considering an extension beyond May 11 for urban areas such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is reportedly set to meet with senior government ministers Wednesday to discuss the extension. Yomiuri did not say how long the extension might be or who its sources were.
However, the report did cite a statement made by the governor of Osaka Prefecture, which was looking into extending the state of emergency declaration for the city for another three weeks to a month.
Under the state of emergency declaration, commercial and entertainment establishments, such as bars, karaoke parlors and restaurants, could be forced to temporarily close down or close early. Department stores and retail outlets not deemed essential will also be forced to temporarily close down.
The specifics of the restrictions apart from the aforementioned facilities are still uncertain. Yomiuri said it is not yet clear if companies in the service sector will be restricted from operating.
Government officials declared a state of emergency for most of the country's urban areas with high numbers of cases last month. The initial announcement caused some concerns on whether the Tokyo Olympics can be held as planned.
Olympics officials later announced that the event would still be taking place but at a limited capacity. Unlike pre-pandemic Olympic events, the upcoming Tokyo Olympics would be the first to be held without foreign guests and fans.
The Tokyo Olympics has already been delayed once last year due to the global pandemic. The international multi-sport event is scheduled to kick off on July 23 and end on Aug. 8.
On Wednesday, Olympics officials held a half-marathon event to test out possible pandemic measures and strategies that may be applied during the actual games. The event was held in the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido.
