Japan could free more regions from emergency as new COVID-19 cases drop

Local authorities from several prefectures in Japan, including Tokyo, said on Tuesday they want to push for the lifting of a state of emergency in their regions as new coronavirus infections drop.

According to local media, Tokyo reported five new coronavirus infections Tuesday, marking the lowest daily increase since April 7 when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a month-long state of emergency in seven prefectures to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.