Japan’s COVID-19 state of emergency will expire Thursday but, unlike in the past, quasi-emergency measures will not be used to fend off a rebound in coronavirus cases.
Instead, steps similar to quasi-emergency measures will be executed by prefectural governors, who have been given the task of rolling back restrictions while maintaining certain precautions.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced Tuesday evening that the country’s state of emergency and quasi-emergency measures — currently active in 19 and eight prefectures, respectively — will all be lifted Thursday as originally planned.