People expressed concern Friday after the government said it plans to expand the coronavirus state of emergency beyond Tokyo and the Kansai region and extend it to May 31, while some were skeptical about whether the measures can bring down the number of infections.
"I wonder if it is worth issuing an (emergency) declaration now," said Tsukasa Ishii, who was on the way to work in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is set to be added to the emergency along with Aichi Prefecture from Wednesday.
As restaurants and bars will be prohibited from serving alcohol and must close by 8 p.m. under the emergency, the 33-year-old also said, "I feel sorry for the eateries."