Japan lifts emergency for 39 prefectures expect Tokyo, Osaka

Thirty-nine out of Japan's 47 prefectures will lift their state of emergency, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday while other eight prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka will remain under the state of emergency.

"Japan will lift a state of emergency for 39 of the country's 47 prefectures ahead of its planned expiration at the end of the month, as the spread of the novel coronavirus in these areas has been kept in check," Abe said in a nationally televised news conference.

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