With signs emerging that new COVID-19 cases are peaking, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said Monday that, for the time being, he will refrain from asking the central government to impose a state of emergency. But he added that he may reconsider if cases go up in the future.
Yoshimura, who said last week he may ask for a more stringent state of emergency amid strains on the health care system in Osaka Prefecture, told reporters that he expects the central government to extend its quasi-emergency, which is set to expire Sunday.
“(A state of emergency) would strongly restrict people's rights. I don't think it needs to be imposed when cases are going down," said Yoshimura. "If the number of infections increases, I'll request a state of emergency at that point."