Japan's Okinawa declares coronavirus emergency as cases spike

19/1/2021 19:05

        apan's southernmost prefecture, Okinawa, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday over the COVID-19 pandemic, as the country grapples with a surge in
        infections six months before it is set to host the Summer Olympics.
        
        Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said emergency measures include asking restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m. and residents to refrain from non-urgent outings after 8 p.m.
        
        The emergency is scheduled to last until Feb. 7.
        
        The national government had already issued a state of emergency for Tokyo and other areas but the southern island, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military forces in Japan, went ahead and declared an emergency of its own after a spike in cases.